Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/9581
Title: Treatment of ventricular arrhythmias after CAST.
Austin Authors: Tonkin, Andrew M
Affiliation: Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Vic.
Issue Date: 6-Apr-1992
Publication information: Medical Journal of Australia; 156(7): 488-92
Abstract: The primary objective of this article is to review the management of ventricular arrythmias in the light of the unfavourable results reported in the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST).CAST tested the hypothesis that suppression of ventricular arrhythmias recorded on a Holter monitor in patients with myocardial infarction would lead to a decrease in subsequent mortality, presumably by preventing sudden death. In the trial, patients with a myocardial infarction which occurred six days to two years previously and with asymptomatic ventricular premature beats which could be suppressed by one of the antiarrhythmic agents flecainide, encainide or moricizine, were randomised to treatment with one of these agents or placebo. Over a mean follow-up period of 10 months, mortality was significantly higher in those patients receiving flecainide or encainide than in those receiving placebo. On the recommendation of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board the trial in these groups was terminated. More recently CAST II in which moricizine was compared to placebo was also terminated, again because of a higher mortality in the patients receiving active treatment. It is likely that much of the excess mortality can be attributed to proarrhythmic effects of the agents.Current management of ventricular arrhythmias are considered in the light of these findings. CAST suggests that specific treatment should be dictated by the presence of associated symptoms and as much by associated structural heart disease as the arrhythmia per se. In particular, specific treatment of ventricular premature beats alone should be avoided. In those with potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias, referral for appropriate investigation and consideration of non-pharmacological measures is necessary.
Gov't Doc #: 1372950
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/9581
Journal: Medical Journal of Australia
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1372950
Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Anti-Arrhythmia Agents.adverse effects.therapeutic use
Arrhythmias, Cardiac.drug therapy.etiology.mortality
Cardiac Complexes, Premature.drug therapy
Clinical Trials as Topic
Death, Sudden, Cardiac.prevention & control
Electrocardiography, Ambulatory
Encainide.adverse effects.therapeutic use
Flecainide.adverse effects.therapeutic use
Heart Ventricles
Humans
Moricizine.adverse effects.therapeutic use
Myocardial Infarction.complications
Ventricular Function, Left.physiology
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

Show full item record

Page view(s)

4
checked on Mar 28, 2024

Google ScholarTM

Check


Items in AHRO are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.