Moreover all the anti-arrhythmic agents that are used in treatment of AF were potentially pro-arrhythmic especially in patients with coronary artery disease and structurally abnormal heart .
Although atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is the most common sustained arrhythmia seen during daily cardiovascular physician practice , its management remained a challenge for cardiology physician as there was no single anti-arrhythmic agents proved to be effective in converting atrial fibrillation and kept its effectiveness in maintaining sinus rhythm over long term .
Some of these drugs also have serious non cardiac side effects that limit its long term use in the management of atrial fibrillation .
Several new and investigational anti-arrhythmic agents are emerging but data supporting their effectiveness and safety are still limited .
A Comparison of Amiodarone and Digoxin in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation Complicating Suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction
Summary : Thirty-four patients with atrial fibrillation complicating suspected acute myocardial infa rct ion were r and omised to treatment with intravenous amiodarone ( n = 18 ) or intravenous digoxin ( n = 16 ) . After 24 h , similar proportions of patients in each group had reverted to sinus rhythm . However , there was a tendency towards earlier reversion with amiodarone . At 4 h , 72 % of the amiodarone group had reverted to sinus rhythm , compared with 31 % of the digoxin group ( p < 0.1 ) . This tendency was more marked in patients with definite infa rct ion ( at 4 h , amiodarone 75 % reversion , digoxin 10 % reversion ) . Neither drug had a significant effect on blood pressure . Atrial fibrillation may cause serious haemodynamic deterioration in acute myocardial infa rct ion . In comparison with digoxin , amiodarone offers more rapid control of the ventricular response rate and may , in addition , restore sinus rhythm more rapidly
Moreover all the anti-arrhythmic agents that are used in treatment of AF were potentially pro-arrhythmic especially in patients with coronary artery disease and structurally abnormal heart .
Although atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is the most common sustained arrhythmia seen during daily cardiovascular physician practice , its management remained a challenge for cardiology physician as there was no single anti-arrhythmic agents proved to be effective in converting atrial fibrillation and kept its effectiveness in maintaining sinus rhythm over long term .
Some of these drugs also have serious non cardiac side effects that limit its long term use in the management of atrial fibrillation .
Several new and investigational anti-arrhythmic agents are emerging but data supporting their effectiveness and safety are still limited .