title: The influence of concomitant drug therapy on the efficacy of atrial overdrive stimulation for prevention of atrial tachyarrhythmias.
abstract: Data from the completed "Suppression of Atrial Fibrillation by DDD+ Overdrive Pacing with Inos2 CLS (closed-loop system) Pacemakers" multicenter trial were retrospectively evaluated to examine the influence of concomitant antiarrhythmic drugs on the clinical success of conventional single site right atrial overdrive pacing compared with DDD pacing. The DDD+ overdrive algorithm provided > 90% atrial pacing at a rate slightly above the intrinsic atrial rate. Seventy-five patients with conventional pacing indications and paroxysmal, recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia have completed the study. They were randomized to 6 months of DDD or DDD+ pacing, followed by mode crossover and an additional 6-month follow-up in the alternate mode. The incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmia during each period was compared using data on sustained (> 60 s) mode switch episodes stored in the pacemaker memory. A stable antiarrhythmic drug regimen was allowed during the study. beta-Adrenergic blockers and Class III antiarrhythmics, prescribed to 54.7% and 40.0% of patients respectively, were linked to minimal or no benefit of overdrive pacing compared with DDD pacing. In contrast, patients untreated with beta-adrenergic blockers or Class III drugs had a significant reduction in atrial tachyarrhythmia burden of > 5 hours/patient per week (P < 0.05) during overdrive. Changes with Class I and Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, prescribed to 18.7% and 13.3% of patients, respectively, were insignificant. Our data indicate that clinical trials that prohibit the use of beta-adrenergic blockers may record more favorable outcomes with dynamic atrial overdrive algorithms versus conventional DDDR pacing, than studies allowing concomitant beta-adrenergic blockade.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic II, St. Franziskus Hospital, Maria Hilf Clinics, Viersener Strasse 450, D-41063 Moenchengladbach, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Konz
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Danilovic
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brachmann
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Attuel
authors.forename: Dia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: el Allaf
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malinowski
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Le Blanc
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szendey
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schibgilla
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Motzke
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents