Why the study?
Does antiarrhythmic therapy or beta-blocker therapy provide benefit in patients with asymptomatic ventricular ectopy?
Does antiarrhythmic therapy or beta-blocker therapy provide benefit in patients with asymptomatic ventricular ectopy?
Treatment of asymptomatic ventricular ectopy is generally not required in the absence of organic heart disease, though beta-blockers are recommended post-MI.
Supports avoiding antiarrhythmics without organic heart disease; leaves open beta-blocker role in modern post-MI care.
Ventricular ectopy that is bothersome to the patient warrants treatment, but the asymptomatic cases present the physician with a dilemma of whether or not treatment is justified. In patients free of organic heart disease, antiarrhythmic therapy does not appear to be necessary. Post myocardial infarction (MI) patients should be considered for beta-blocker therapy regardless of the presence of ventricular ectopy. In the post-MI patient with risk factors for sudden death, treatment of complex dysrhythmia may be warranted, despite the lack of documented benefit.
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Lofgren et al. (1983) studied this question.
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