ORAL DISOPYRAMIDE IN PROPHYLAXIS OF ARRHYTHMIAS FOLLOWING MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract Oral disopyramide given prophylactically following myocardial infarction has been compared with placebo in a double-blind trial using continuous-tape monitoring of the electrocardiogram. It caused a significant reduction in the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and of the various degrees of heart-block. There was a significant reduction of reinfarction during hospital stay in patients who had received disopyramide. Disopyramide appears to be a safe and effective oral therapy in the prevention of potentially serious arrhythmias following myocardial infarction.