[Congestive heart failure and arrhythmia]

Abstract

About 40% of cardiac death in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) has been reported to be due to ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Therefore, it is important to know how to treat ventricular arrhythmia associated with CHF. Recently, proarrhythmic effect and negative inotropic effect of antiarrhythmic drugs (class I agents), have been noted and class III agents, especially amiodarone is expected to have preventing effects for sudden death. Furthermore, drug therapy such as beta blocker and ACE inhibitor and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator has advanced.