A clinical study of amiodarone as a single oral dose in patients with recent-onset atrial tachyarrhythmia.
Forty-five patients with recent-onset sustained atrial tachyarrhythmia (mean heart rate at entry; 140.0 +/- 3.5 beats.min-1) associated with various cardiovascular diseases were treated by oral amiodarone, given as a single loading dose of 25.7 +/- 0.9 mg.kg-1 body weight. Conversion to sinus rhythm was observed in 29 patients during the first 24 h of treatment, leading to a success rate of 64.4%. Five additional patients converted to sinus rhythm with continuation of oral amiodarone, (10-15 mg.kg-1 by day) with a mean delay of 4.2 days. A similar population of 27 patients (mean heart rate at entry; 140 +/- 3 beats.min-1) was treated by intravenous amiodarone, given as a bolus infusion of 3-5 mg.kg-1 over 30 min (mean; 4.1 +/- 0.2 mg.kg-1), followed by a continuous infusion of 10-15 mg.kg-1 for 24 h (mean; 11.1 +/- 0.7 mg.kg-1). Eighteen patients converted to sinus rhythm during the first 24 h of therapy, leading to a success rate of 66.7%. Minor adverse effects of therapy were observed in two patients given oral amiodarone, and in seven given intravenous amiodarone. No major effect was observed. We suggest that amiodarone given as a single oral loading dose of 25-30 mg.kg-1 body weight is an effective, simple and well-tolerated therapy, suitable for most patients with recent-onset ATA.
Andrivet
P
P
Cardiology-Pneumology Intensive Care Unit, Centre Médico-Chirurgical de Bligny, Briis-sous-Forges, France.
Boubakri
E
E
Dove
P J
PJ
Mach
V
V
Vu Ngoc
C
C
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D000638:Amiodarone