[Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic evaluation of the effects of propranolol and verapamil in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

The purpose of this study is to compare M-mode echocardiographic and electrocardiographic modifications obtained by short-term therapy (6 weeks) with high doses (480 mg/day) of propranolol or verapamil in six patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Propranolol prevents heart rate acceleration and reduces significantly the echocardiographic obstruction index during provocative testing with isoprenaline, when verapamil doesn't. However verapamil seems to be more able than propranolol to suppress ventricular arrhythmias as demonstrated in Holter monitoring. Evaluation of each patient suffering from hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with echocardiography and 24-hours electrocardiography would permit to better define appropriate therapy.