Propranolol treatment of chronic intractable supraventricular arrhythmias

Abstract Twenty-six euthyroid patients with long standing supraventricular arrhythmias refractory to standard therapy were successfully treated with propranolol. Ten had atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rates that digitalis preparations could not control. These patients have had satisfactorily slower ventricular rates for 5 to 22 months. In 13 patients the frequency of recurring paroxysmal atrial arrhythmias was markedly reduced or eliminated for 5 to 22 months. Rapid sinus tachycardia (110 to 160 beats/min.) slowed significantly in 3 patients for 15 to 22 months. Therapy was discontinued in a fourth because of psychiatric depression. Three patients with recurrent supraventricular tachycardia could not tolerate the drug. One patient with arteriosclerotic heart disease and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in whom frequent recurrent atrial tachycardias had been successfully controlled for five months died suddenly at home.