title: Cardioversion with sotalol in selected patients with vagally and adrenergically mediated paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate and compare the effects of oral sotalol for the treatment of vagal and adrenergic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Thirty-five eligible patients with atrial fibrillation of > 12 hours and < 7 days were enrolled in the study. Patients were classified as vagally mediated (group I, n: 14) and adrenergically mediated (group II, n: 21) PAF groups. All patients were given racemic sotalol at a dose up to 120 mg bid for 2 days. At the end of the observation period of 48 hours, 36% of patients (n: five) in group I returned to sinus rhythm. Conversion rate in group II was 71% (n: 15), and this figure was significantly higher than the success rate in group I. Mean times to cardioversion were 22 +/- 15 hours in group I and 16 +/- 14 hours in group II (p < 0.05). The result of this study suggests that oral sotalol is more effective for adrenergic PAF. This beneficial effect of sotalol is not apparent in vagal PAF patients.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Izmir State Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeşil
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bayata
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Postaci
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aslan
mesh_terms: D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004554:Electric Countershock; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013015:Sotalol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013015:Sotalol