Prospective randomized study comparing amiodarone vs. amiodarone plus losartan vs. amiodarone plus perindopril for the prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients with lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this trial was to compare the long-term efficacy of low-dose amiodarone with losartan and perindopril (both combined with low-dose amiodarone) for the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in patients with lone paroxysmal AF.


RESULTS
One-hundred and seventy-seven patients with lone paroxysmal AF were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: group 1 received low-dose amiodarone alone, group 2 received low-dose amiodarone plus losartan, and group 3 received low-dose amiodarone plus perindopril. Left atrial diameter was measured with transthoracic echocardiogram at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after randomization. The primary endpoint was the incidence of AF documented by 12-lead ECG or Holter after 14 days and within 24 months after randomization. The primary endpoint was reached in 24 patients (41%) in group 1, 11 (19%) in group 2, and 14 (24%) in group 3 (P = 0.02). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in AF recurrence in group 2 (P = 0.006, log-rank test) as well as in group 3 (P = 0.04, log-rank test) when compared with group 1. No difference in the AF recurrence-free survival was found between group 2 and group 3. After 24 months follow-up, the left atrial diameter in group 2 and group 3 was significantly smaller than that in group 1 (36 +/- 2.3 and 35 +/- 2.4 vs. 38 +/- 2.4 mm, P < 0.001 for both comparisons).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that the combination of perindopril or losartan with low-dose amiodarone is more effective than low-dose amiodarone alone for the prevention of AF recurrence in patients with lone paroxysmal AF. Adding losartan or perindopril to amiodarone can inhibit left atrial enlargement in this group of patients.
Yin
Yuehui
Y
Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400010, China. yinyuehui63@yahoo.com.cn
Dalal
Darshan
D
Liu
Zengchang
Z
Wu
Jinjin
J
Liu
Dong
D
Lan
Xianbin
X
Dai
Yin
Y
Su
Li
L
Ling
Zhiyu
Z
She
Qiang
Q
Luo
Kailiang
K
Woo
Kamsang
K
Dong
Jun
J
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019808:Losartan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020913:Perindopril / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D019808:Losartan; D000638:Amiodarone; D020913:Perindopril