Effects of intravenous dofetilide in patients with frequent premature ventricular contractions: a clinical trial.

Background: Although suppression of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) is not a predictor of mortality over the long term, the extent of PVC suppression is an important characteristic of any antiarrhythmic drug.

Hypothesis: This study was undertaken to determine whether intravenous (i.v.

Does Chinese ethnicity affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors?

Information from clinical and pharmacokinetic studies of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) has come from subjects who are mostly male and Caucasian, but the use of ACEIs extends to populations worldwide. Significant differences between Chinese in general and male Caucasians have been demonstrated in the pharmacokinetics/dynamics of other drug classes that could have implications for the use of ACEIs in the Chinese population. These include: significant Chinese/Caucasian genetic variation in the renin-angiotensin system based on an insertion/deletion (O/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene; the genetic determination of plasma ACE activity in the Chinese population; and genetic factors involving the disease substrate which may also influence the response to treatment.

Anomalies in the dosing of diltiazem.

From early research, investigators understood that the dose of diltiazem required for the treatment of hypertension (commonly 360 mg/day) was greater than that required for the treatment of angina (commonly 240 mg/day). Nonetheless, studies of recent prescribing practices show that the 240 and 180 mg capsule strengths constitute more than 70% of the diltiazem prescriptions for hypertension. Physicians became accustomed to the lower antianginal doses of diltiazem for 7 years before a hypertension indication was approved.

Neurohormonal activation in the treatment of congestive heart failure: basis for new treatments?

Traditionally, the pathophysiology of heart failure was viewed as a derangement in hemodynamic factors. Impairment in cardiac function resulted in decreased cardiac output and end-organ hypoperfusion triggering compensatory increases in heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac contractility. While initially beneficial, these mechanisms placed additional stress on the failing heart.

Effect of morning versus evening dosing of diltiazem on myocardial ischemia detected by ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring in chronic stable angina pectoris. Dilacor XR Ambulatory Ischemia Study Group.

Myocardial ischemia occurs frequently during daily life and has a circadian pattern similar to that reported for myocardial infarction and sudden death. Because of the increased risk of myocardial ischemia in the morning hours, it has been suggested that the administration of anti-ischemic medication before bedtime may be more effective than the traditional morning dosing. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study evaluated the effects of 480-mg/day diltiazem (given either in the A.