title: Usefulness and safety of bepridil in converting persistent atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of bepridil (a multichannel blocker including several potassium channels) for conversion of long-lasting atrial fibrillation (AF). Bepridil restored sinus rhythm alone or in combination with aprindine in 69% of 32 patients with persistent AF lasting > or = 3 months. The time to conversion after starting bepridil was 30 +/- 12 days. An increase in fibrillation cycle length with bepridil was greater in responders (31 +/- 10%), but an increase in QTc did not differ between responders and nonresponders. Bepridil is effective and safe for terminating long-lasting persistent AF.
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan. fujiki@ms.toyama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujiki
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuneda
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugao
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mizumaki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001073:Aprindine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015764:Bepridil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D001073:Aprindine; D015764:Bepridil