Velebit et al listed criteria for aggravation of a ventricular arrhythmia by an antiarrhythmic drug. The authors are from Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Criteria - both of the following:
(1) one or more of the following:
(1a) fourfold increase or greater in the frequency of ventricular premature complexes
(1b) tenfold increase or greater in the frequency of repetitive forms
(1c) first emergence of sustained ventricular tachycardia
(2) change in arrhythmia coincident with time course of action of the drug
Observations by authors:
(1) Drug levels were in the therapeutic range.
(2) The frequency of aggravation for commonly used drugs ranged from 5-16%.
(3) The aggravation was not readily predictable.
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