Randomised trial of effect of amiodarone on mortality in patients with left-ventricular dysfunction after recent myocardial infarction: EMIAT

Background Ventricular arrhythmias are a major cause of death after myocardial infarction, especially in patients w ith poor left -ventricular funct ion. Previous at tempts t o ident i fy and suppress ar rhy t hmias w i t h var ious antiarrhythmic drugs failed to reduce or actually increase mortality. Amiodarone is a powerful antiarrhythmic drug with several potentially beneficial actions, and has shown benefit in several small-scale studies. We postulated that this drug might reduce mortality in patients at high risk of death after myocardial infarct ion because of impaired ventricular funct ion, irrespect ive of whether they had ventricular arrhythmias.