Key result
Multifocal atrial tachycardia was associated with a 37% hospital mortality due to underlying conditions, and propranolol effectively slowed the atrial rate in all 7 treated patients.
Why the study?
What are the clinical characteristics, mortality, and response to therapy in patients with multifocal atrial tachycardia?
Observational (n=41)
What are the clinical characteristics, mortality, and response to therapy in patients with multifocal atrial tachycardia?
In patients with multifocal atrial tachycardia, hospital mortality is high due to underlying conditions, and propranolol appears effective for rate control while digitalis and other antiarrhythmics are largely ineffective.
High mortality from comorbidities in multifocal atrial tachycardia warrants vigilance; case reports leave open whether rate control improves outcomes.
Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) was observed in 41 patients, 35 of whom were in acute respiratory distress. A hospital mortality of 37% reflected the seriousness of their underlying conditions. In no patient was the arrhythmia the primary cause of death. The MAT preceded and/or followed atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (Af) in 19 patients (46%). The MAT simulated AF in several cases in which P-waves were inconspicuous. Our cases suggest that MAT is not a manifestation of digitalis intoxication. Quinidine sulfate, procainamide hydrochloride, lidocaine, and phenytoin (diphenythydantoin) did not affect the rhythm. Digitalis was usually not effective in slowing the ventricular response in patients with MAT. Propranolol hydrochloride was given to seven patients and was effective in slowing the atrial rate in all cases. An attempt at electrocardioversion was unsuccessful in one patient.
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Kyuhyun Wang (1977) conducted an observational in Multifocal atrial tachycardia (n=41). Antiarrhythmic therapy (including propranolol) was evaluated on Hospital mortality. Multifocal atrial tachycardia was associated with a 37% hospital mortality due to underlying conditions, and propranolol effectively slowed the atrial rate in all 7 treated patients.