Extensive antiarrhythmic drug therapy for 2 months post-ablation did not reduce atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence at 12 months compared to single AAD therapy (33.9% vs 36.1%, P=0.799).
RCT (n=123)
Does extensive antiarrhythmic drug therapy (class Ic and III) reduce recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias at 12 months in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation?
Extensive antiarrhythmic drug therapy for 2 months post-ablation of persistent AF reduces early recurrences but fails to prevent late recurrences at 12 months.
Absolute Event Rate: 33.9% vs 36.1%
p-value: p=0.799
OBJECTIVE: Whether early rhythm suppression with extensive antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation decreases arrhythmia recurrence is unknown. We now report the 12-month follow-up data in this prospective and randomized study. METHODS AND RESULTS: 123 consecutive patients with persistent AF undergoing catheter ablation were randomly divided into an extensive AADs therapy group (group 1:62 patients using both class Ic and III AADs) or one AAD therapy group (group 2:61 patients using class Ic or III AADs alone) for the initial 2 months after ablation. Recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATa) was valuated at both 2 months and 12 months following ablation. During the first 2 months after ablation, less ATa were found in group 1 compared with group 2 (17/62 versus 29/61, P = 0.021). However, there was no difference with regard to ATa at 12 months between the groups (21/62 versus 22/61, P = 0.799). ATa at 2 months and left atrial diameter (LAD) were the statistically significant predictors of ATa during 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: While use of extensive AADs within the initial 2 months after persistent AF ablation decreases early ATa, it does not prevent late ATa. Moreover, LAD as well as early ATa is a strong predictor of ATa at 12 months.
Gu et al. (Wed,) conducted a rct in Persistent atrial fibrillation (n=123). Extensive antiarrhythmic drugs (both class Ic and III AADs) vs. One AAD therapy (class Ic or III AADs alone) was evaluated on Recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATa) at 12 months (p=0.799). Extensive antiarrhythmic drug therapy for 2 months post-ablation did not reduce atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence at 12 months compared to single AAD therapy (33.9% vs 36.1%, P=0.799).
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