Alprenolol in the Treatment of Arrhythmias in Acute Coronary Patients

Alprenolol, a beta‐receptor blocking agent with a slight intrinsic beta‐receptor stimulating effect, has been given to 15 acute coronary patients intravenously for treatment of acute arrhythmias. The results were successful in one case out of three with atrial fibrillation, in none of the three cases with ventricular tachycardia, in three cases out of four with supraventricular tachycardia, in three cases out of four with ventricular ectopic beats, and unsuccessful in the only atrial flutter case. In four cases the injection of 2.5–5.0 mg of alprenolol resulted in sudden circulatory collapse and clinical shock. In all these cases the blood pressure was readily restored with metaraminol or noradrenaline infusion without complications. It is evident that the beta‐receptor stimulating effect is not sufficient to compensate the drawbacks of beta‐blockade in this drug. Alprenolol cannot be recommended in the treatment of arrhythmias in acute coronary patients.