title: Esmolol versus verapamil in the acute treatment of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
abstract: The effects of esmolol, an ultrashort-acting beta blocker, and verapamil were compared in controlling ventricular response in 45 patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, in a randomized, parallel, open-label study. Patients with either new onset (less than 48 hours, n = 31) or old onset (greater than 48 hours, n = 14) of atrial fibrillation or flutter with rapid ventricular rate were stratified to receive esmolol (n = 21) or verapamil (n = 24). Drug efficacy was measured by ventricular rate reduction and conversion to sinus rhythm. The heart rate declined with esmolol from 139 to 100 beats/min (p less than 0.001) and with verapamil from 142 to 97 beats/min (p less than 0.001). Fifty percent of esmolol-treated patients with new onset of arrhythmias converted to sinus rhythm, whereas only 12% of those who received verapamil converted (p less than 0.03). Mild hypotension was observed in both treatment groups. Esmolol compares favorably with verapamil with respect to both efficacy and safety in acutely decreasing ventricular response during atrial fibrillation or flutter. Moreover, conversion to sinus rhythm is significantly more likely with esmolol.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010-2931.
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Platia
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Michelson
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Porterfield
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014700:Verapamil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011412:Propanolamines; D004077:Digoxin; D014700:Verapamil; C036604:esmolol