Preliminary study of the effects of metoprolol and propafenone on ventricular arrhythmia with positive ventricular late potential

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of metoprolol and propafenone in patients with ventricular arrhythmia (VA) of positive ventricular late potential (VLP) and to discuss the effect of medicine on high risk VA. METHODS: 30 A total of 128 patients (78 males and 50 females) with VA of positive VLP were randomly divided into 3 groups. Groups A and B were given metoprolol and propafenone respectively, group C was given vitamin C as placebo. Twenty-four hours dynamic electrocardiogram and VLP were examined before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Propafenone could effectively control VA but could not reverse positive VLP to negative meanwhile it had proarrhythmia effect (2/40), metoprolol could effectively control VA (38/46) and reverse positive VLP to negative (39/46) with no obvious side effects. The dosage from 50 to 100 mg/day made no difference. VA and VLP had no significant changes in group C. CONCLUSIONS: Metoprolol is superior to other medicine for VA of positive VLP when the patients have no contraindication of preceptor blocking agents.