title: Comparative effects of carvedilol and amiodarone on conversion and recurrence rates of persistent atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Pretreatment with antiarrhythmic agents could improve cardioversion and recurrence rates in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. In a prospective controlled trial, 145 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with carvedilol, amiodarone, or placebo for 4 weeks before electrical cardioversion. Although the 2 drugs had similar effects on cardioversion rates, amiodarone was superior in terms of sinus rhythm maintenance after conversion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Heraklion University Hospital, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanuel M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kanoupakis
authors.forename: Emmanuel G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Manios
authors.forename: Hercules E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Mavrakis
authors.forename: Panos G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Tzerakis
authors.forename: Helen K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Mouloudi
authors.forename: Panos E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Vardas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol; D000638:Amiodarone