Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients with Hypertensive Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

To the Editor: In the report on their study, McLenachan et al. (Sept. 24 issue)* claim to have shown no association between ventricular arrhythmias and diuretic therapy or hypokalemia. The authors use their findings to support the view that diuretic-induced hypokalemia is not arrhythmogenic. Surely the authors (and the reviewers) are aware of the suppressive effect of beta-blockers on cardiac arrhythmias — one of the primary indications for the use of these drugs. Of the 100 hypertensive patients in their study, fully 73 were taking a beta-blocker, including almost half of those who received a diuretic. In no way does. No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.