SOTALOL - A NEW AGENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS

Sotalol was developed as a nonselective beta-blocker in the 1960s for the treatment of hypertension and later for cardiac risk management af ter myocardial infarction. Extensive research has since well described class III type electrophysiologic effects on the repolarization of my ocardial fibers. Sotalol prolongs and homogenizes ventricular refracto riness, resulting in good antifibrillatory/antitachycardia protection. The unique combination of beta-blockade and antiarrhythmic effects pr obably will promote sotalol's use in postmyocardial infarction patient s with ventricular tachycardia and sudden death. This article summariz es the pharmacologic and cardiovascular effects of this new drug, outl ining its clinical use.