No clear benefit was observed for AF recurrence at 2 - 3 days , 1 or 24 months of follow-up .
Steroid use was associated with decreased risk of early AF recurrence 3 and 12 - 14 months after ablation .
Previous studies have reported that steroids may reduce the risk of  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) recurrence after catheter ablation , but data regarding this issue have been controversial .
Therefore , we conducted a meta- analysis of r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) and observational studies to ascertain the association of steroids and  AF recurrence  after ablation .
Colchicine for prevention of early atrial fibrillation recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation: a randomized controlled study.
OBJECTIVES The purpose of the present study was to test the potential of colchicine , an agent with potent anti-inflammatory action , to reduce atrial fibrillation ( AF ) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal AF . BACKGROUND Proinflammatory processes induced by AF ablation therapy have been implicated in postablation arrhythmia recurrence . METHODS Patients with paroxysmal AF who received radiofrequency ablation treatment  were r and omized to a 3-month course of colchicine 0.5 mg twice daily or placebo .  C-reactive protein ( CRP ) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were measured on day 1 and on day 4 of treatment . RESULTS In the 3-month follow-up , recurrence of AF was observed in 27 ( 33.5 % ) of 80 patients of the placebo group versus 13 ( 16 % ) of 81 patients who received colchicine ( odds ratio : 0.38 , 95 % confidence interval : 0.18 to 0.80 ) . Gastrointestinal side-effects were the most common symptom among patients receiving active treatment . Diarrhea was reported in 7 patients in the colchicine group ( 8.6 % ) versus 1 in the placebo group ( 1.3 % , p = 0.03 ) . Colchicine led to higher reductions in CRP and IL-6 levels : the median difference of CRP and IL-6 levels between days 4 and 1 was -0.46 mg/l ( interquartile range : -0.78 to 0.08 mg/l ) and -0.10 mg/l ( -0.30 to 0.10 pg/ml ) , respectively , in the placebo group versus -1.18 mg/l ( -2.35 to -0.46 mg/l ) and -0.50 pg/ml ( -1.15 to -0.10 pg/ml ) in the colchicine group ( p < 0.01 for both comparisons ) . CONCLUSIONS Colchicine is an effective and safe treatment for prevention of early AF recurrences after pulmonary vein isolation in the absence of antiarrhythmic drug treatment . This effect seems to be associated strongly with a significant decrease in inflammatory mediators , including IL-6 and CRP
No clear benefit was observed for AF recurrence at 2 - 3 days , 1 or 24 months of follow-up .
Steroid use was associated with decreased risk of early AF recurrence 3 and 12 - 14 months after ablation .
Previous studies have reported that steroids may reduce the risk of  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) recurrence after catheter ablation , but data regarding this issue have been controversial .
Therefore , we conducted a meta- analysis of r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) and observational studies to ascertain the association of steroids and  AF recurrence  after ablation .