Benefit-risk ratio in the treatment of tachyarrhythmias. A clinical judgement.

The goal of antiarrhythmic treatment--the well-being of the patient and improvement of prognosis--requires careful clinical investigation and observation with monitoring of the arrhythmia during long term treatment. A few compounds now in use are under investigation for their efficacy in selectively depressing sinus tachycardia, or tachycardias involving the atrioventricular node. No ideal drug is yet available, nor is likely in the near future, for treating the complex problem of arrhythmogenesis. A favourable benefit-risk ratio for flecainide has been shown by many authors during the last 7 years and greatest interest now centres on its use in malignant arrhythmias. More studies in high risk patients are necessary for a better understanding of the proarrhythmic properties of antiarrhythmic drugs, thus paving the way for prevention and treatment of these unwanted effects.