Introduction: Prognosis of the patients with beta blocker or calcium channel blocker induced AV block is not well known to date. Methods: All patients with symptomatic second-degree or third-degree atrioventricular block (AV) referred to our institution during one year were recuited prospectively and classified in two groups based on drug consumption (beta blocker/calcium channel blocker versus none). They were followed for six months and then collected data was analyzed. Results:The study included 49 patients, 28 patients (age 60.1 ± 20, 19 male) did not use any beta blocker or calcium channel blocker (No-DU group) and other 21 patients (age 73.5 ± 10.4, 7 male) receivd beta blocker, calcium channel blocker or both at the time of AV block (DU group). No-DU group was significantly younger than DU group. The most common atrial rhythm in both groups was sinus. There was no significant difference in QRS wideness or ventricular rate. AV block regressed in 43% of the DU group after discontinuation of drug for five half-life, but, Mobitz type 2 or complete AV block occurred again during six months in 50% of them without consumption of the culprit drug. Conclusions: More than two third of the patients who developed AV block on beta blocker and/or calcium channel blocker needed permanent pacemaker in six months of follow-up, so we concluded that the development of AV block was not as benign as it seems in these patients.

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Background:Indications for the use of the Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) have been greatly expanded in recent years, but the influence of sex on the efficacy of the ICD in eligible patients has still been remained unknown.Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine the impact of sex on the effectiveness of the ICD intervention for mortality and appropriate events.Materials and Methods:This retrospective study was conducted on the outcome of the ICD therapy in 443 patients, including 341 men with a mean age of 55 ± 16 years and 102 women with a mean age of 54 ± 17 years, in our center between April 2001 and February 2007. Sex-specific cumulative probabilities of outcomes concerning mortality and appropriate ICD intervention were evaluated for the patients.Results:Among the 443 patients, enrolled in this study, the women and men had a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 35 ± 14.8% and 30 ± 13.5%, respectively (P = 0.03). Ischemic heart disease was more frequent in the men than the women (P = 0.0001).The average follow-up period was 3 years. Test for an interaction between sex and the ICD treatment regarding total mortality was not significant (23 men and 6 women). Additionally, there was no significant difference in appropriate events between the women and men (129 men and 33 women).Conclusions:While women were significantly less likely than the men to receive the ICD therapy, no conclusive evidence could be found for the impact of sex factor on the effectiveness of the ICD intervention with respect to mortality and appropriate events.