During recent years, it has become evident that ventricular arrhythmias may arise from myocardial ischemia and that they may be harbingers of sudden cardiac death. On the other hand, ventricular arrhythmias may occur without any prognostic significance and sudden cardiac arrhythmic death may strike without any warning arrhythmia. The role of ischemia in the genesis of ventricular arrhythmias and of sudden cardiac death has been observed beyond doubt. However, the mechanism by which ischemia leads to the appearance of ventricular arrhythmias and/or sudden cardiac death has remained rather poorly understood, inspite of rather remarkable research efforts on the one hand, and the magnitude of the problem on the other hand. We have therefore set out to assemble scientists from around the world in order to define the current state of our knowledge on myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia. Well in line with the tradition of the Gargellen Conferences, we assembled clinicians and basic scientists for the 7th Gargellen Conference. This book presents the proceed- ings of the Symposium in the attempt to define the current status of our understand- ing of this significant problem.
The Symposium was organized by the Society for Cooperation in Medicine and Science (SCMS) and was generously sponsored by Astra Chemicals, Wedel; Bayer AG, Leverkusen; Boehringer-Mannheim; CPI-Lilly, Giessen; Janssen GmbH, Neuss; Minden Pharma, Minden; Rahm Pharma, Weiter- stadt; Schering AG, Berlin, and Siemens AG, Erlangen.