[Clinical use of beta-blocker an as antiarrhythmic agent].

It has been reported that beta-blocker treatment reduces the incidence of sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction, possibly due to antiischemic and antiarrhythmic effects. Beta adrenoceptor blocking drugs are administered, as an antiarrhythmic agent in patients with hyperthyroidism, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Even low dose beta-blocker administration reduces the incidence of PVC's. Beta blockers are expected to decrease the ventricular rate of persistent tachyarrhythmias resulting from excessive cardiac sympathetic tone. Existence of denervated areas in myocardium in the cases of ventricular tachyarrhythmias may be shown in the cardiac scintigram as abnormal myocardial uptake of 123I-MIBG.