title: The effect of low-dose amiodarone in prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
abstract: The efficacy of amiodarone for atrial fibrillation (AF) prophylaxis is well established, but the large doses used until recently may be harmful during long-term therapy, especially because of the pulmonary fibrosis it generates. Recently, similar good results have been reported in using low-dose amiodarone. We studied the prophylactic effect of long-term therapy of low-dose amiodarone (200 mg/day) in 26 patients with AF of various etiologies. During a period of six months to four years, 46% of patients were free of any arrhythmic attack. The paroxysmal attacks of AF continued in 35% of patients, but with a lower frequency. In 19% of patients AF became chronic during amiodarone therapy. The best results were registered in patients over sixty, with stable sinus rhythm in 75% of cases, probably in relation to the ischemic etiology of AF and the anti-ischemic associated effect of amiodarone. The stability of sinus rhythm was greater (50% vs 38%, p < 0.05) when the treatment with amiodarone was started within the first six months from the first AF attack. Our results supported the use of low-dose amiodarone as a first-line drug for the long-term prophylaxis of AF, mainly in older patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Rehabilitation Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zdrenghea
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Banu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bogdan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beudean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone