[Sudden death during Holter recording. Possible iatrogenic role of cardiovascular drugs. 10 cases].

Ten patients who presented with advanced heart disease and severe ventricular arrhythmia could be considered "at high risk of sudden death" caused by ventricular fibrillation. Yet they died suddenly while under Holter monitoring, and the recordings demonstrated that 4 of these deaths were due to a major disorder of conduction and 6 to ventricular fibrillation. Further analysis of these cases showed that the lethal disturbance of heart rhythm was ascribable to an anti-arrhythmic drug in 5 cases (2 with conduction disorder, 3 with ventricular fibrillation). It would appear that although patients of this kind need anti-arrhythmic drugs, these should be given with caution and in lower doses than in patients with normal left ventricular function.