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 .
Effectiveness of intravenous propafenone for conversion of recent‐onset atrial fibrillation: A placebo‐controlled study
To evaluate the efficacy of propafenone in converting recent‐onset atrial fibrillation ( AF ) lasting < 7 days , 182 patients were treated intravenously with propafenone ( Group 1 , n = 98 ) and with placebo 0.9 % saline solution ( Group 2 , n = 84 ) in a double blind study . The treatment was continued until sinus rhythm ( SR ) was restored , but for no more than 24 h. Eighty‐nine patients treated with propafenone ( 90.8 % ) and 27 patients treated with placebo ( 32.1 % ) responded to the treatment and SR was restored ( p < 0.0005 ) . The mean time for SR restoration was 2.51± 2.77 h in Group 1 , and 17.15± 7.8 h in Group 2 ( p < 0.0005 ) . In both groups the patients in whom SR was not restored ( nonresponders ) had larger left atrial size and longer duration of AF than responders at the onset of the arrhythmia . Nonresponders in Group 1 showed a decrease in mean ventricular rate ( MVR ) from 143± 16 to 101± 18 ( p < 0.0005 ) , while in the nonresponders in Group 2 no reduction of MVR was observed . Two patients whose SR was restored with propafenone had sinus st and still lasting 3.4 and 3.8 s , respectively . Propafenone used intravenously is an effective , quick , and safe drug for treating AF . Moreover , it significantly reduces MVR in nonresponders
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 .