Comparative effects of the combination of digoxin and dl-sotalol therapy versus digoxin monotherapy for control of ventricular response in chronic atrial fibrillation. dl-Sotalol Atrial Fibrillation Study Group.
To establish the value of adjuvant dl-sotalol to digoxin for control of the ventricular response in chronic atrial fibrillation, 60 patients were evaluated in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study. Patients were evaluated with serial ambulatory ECG monitoring and exercise testing during stable digoxin dosing and then with the addition of either a placebo or dl-sotalol, 80 mg/day, or dl-sotalol, 160 mg/day. The combination of digoxin and dl-sotalol, at either 80 or 160 mg/day, resulted in a statistically significant reduction in heart rate at rest and with exercise during both exercise testing and ambulatory monitoring. No significant difference was observed between the two doses of dl-sotalol. There was no significant difference with regard to symptoms or side effects among the three groups. In summary, dl-sotalol was noted to be a safe and effective adjuvant to digoxin for control of the ventricular response in chronic atrial fibrillation.
Brodsky
M
M
University of California, Irvine Medical Center.
Saini
R
R
Bellinger
R
R
Zoble
R
R
Weiss
R
R
Powers
L
L
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013015:Sotalol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D004077:Digoxin; D013015:Sotalol