LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH BETA-BLOCKERS AFTER MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Patients (162) discharged from hospital after myocardial infarction were randomly allocated to 2 groups, 1 received alprenolol 400 mg daily, and the other served as the control. The period of follow-up was 2 yr, and all other treatment given was standardized. The 2 groups did not differ with respect to risk factors for myocardial infarctions, the course of the acute infarct or treatment during follow-up. After 2 yr, 1 patient in the group treated with alprenolol had died suddenly as compared to 9 in the control group. During the same period 4 fresh infarcts had occurred in the alprenolol group compared to 15 in the control group. Both these differences were statistically significant. Only 4 patients were obliged to discontinue .beta.-blocker treatment because of suspected side-effects. Long-term post-infarction treatment with .beta.-blockers appears to be an effective form of secondary therapy without serious side-effects.