Key result
Oral flecainide acetate alone achieved conversion and/or no recurrence of atrial fibrillation in 52% of patients, with efficacy decreasing as the duration of persistent arrhythmia increased.
Why the study?
Does oral flecainide acetate improve conversion and/or prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation?
Observational (n=77)
Does oral flecainide acetate improve conversion and/or prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation?
Oral flecainide acetate is effective for the conversion and prevention of recurrence of symptomatic atrial fibrillation, though it carries risks of conduction abnormalities and heart failure.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Should not change AF practice; leaves open efficacy of oral flecainide monotherapy pending randomized data.
Seventy-seven patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) received oral flecainide acetate (247 +/- 8 mg/day). In 66 patients, previous antiarrhythmic trials consisted of 1-9 drugs. In 55 cases, AF was paroxysmal. It was persistent in 22 patients. Conversion and/or no recurrence of AF was achieved in 40 patients (52%) by flecainide alone and in 11 (14%) by the combination of flecainide and amiodarone. The mean flecainide serum level was 535 +/- 46 ng/ml. Age, presence of coronary artery disease or electrocardiographic parameters were not useful for predicting clinical response. In persistent AF, flecainide efficacy decreased with the duration of arrhythmia. Side effects concerned conduction (26%) and congestive heart failure (5%).
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mary-Rabine et al. (2008) conducted an observational in symptomatic atrial fibrillation (n=77). oral flecainide acetate was evaluated on Conversion and/or no recurrence of AF. Oral flecainide acetate alone achieved conversion and/or no recurrence of atrial fibrillation in 52% of patients, with efficacy decreasing as the duration of persistent arrhythmia increased.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: