title: [Effectiveness and side effects of the treatment with propafenone and flecainide for recent-onset atrial fibrillation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors report their experience in recent-onset atrial fibrillation treated with intravenous flecainide and propafenone, in comparison with the placebo group.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomized 352 (138 in the flecainide group, 164 in the propafenone group and 50 in the control group) consecutive patients (167 males, 185 females, mean age 59 +/- 12 years) with recent-onset atrial fibrillation. The electrocardiogram of all patients was monitored for at least 24 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The restoration of sinus rhythm occurred in 72.5, 80.4, 86.2 and 89.8% of patients in the flecainide group; in 54.3, 68.3, 75 and 92.1% in the propafenone group; in 22.2, 27.8, 35.2 and 46.3% in the control group, at 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours respectively. The occurrence of side effects was the same in all treatment groups, and occurred in about 10% of patients in the flecainide and propafenone groups, and in 4% in the control group. In our study population the treatment of recent-onset atrial fibrillation with flecainide was faster in converting the arrhythmia to sinus rhythm (p < 0.005 at 1 hour, p < 0.05 at 3 hours, p = 0.05 at 6 hours). However within 24 hours the efficacy of either flecainide or propafenone was the same (p = NS at 24 hours).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Side effects were similar in both treatment groups. In particular malignant arrhythmias did not occur in the treatment groups and in the control group.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Cardiologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedale Civile, Caserta.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fattore
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corsini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catanzaro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martone
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caccavale
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iodice
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Di Maggio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corsini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005424:Flecainide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011405:Propafenone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D011405:Propafenone; D005424:Flecainide
vernacular_title: Efficacia ed effetti collaterali del trattamento con propafenone e flecainide della fibrillazione atriale di recente insorgenza.