title: Intravenous and oral administration of amiodarone for the treatment of recent onset atrial fibrillation after digoxin administration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains a significant contributor to cardiovascular morbidity. Amiodarone is a potent antiarrhythmic drug. The safety and efficacy of oral versus intravenous (i.v.) Amiodarone in the treatment of AF of recent onset (duration <48 h) was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 223 patients with symptomatic AF, of whom 110 received 600 mg oral Amiodarone (Group A) in three divided doses and 113 received i.v. Amiodarone (5 mg/kg over 30 min followed by 1000 mg over the next 24 h) (Group B). Digoxin was administered to all patients, who had not previously received it. All patients were monitored for 24 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conversion to sinus rhythm occurred in 85.45% of group A and 82.30% in group B (p=NS). Mean time of cardioversion in group A was 20+/-4.5 h and in group B was 12+/-8 h (p<0,001). However, blood pressure (BP) in group A remained stable for the observation period, whereas it fell significantly in group B. Treatment was not discontinued in any of the patients in either group, however 13 patients in group B developed superficial phlebitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both forms of the drug are extremely efficient in restoring sinus rhythm in AF of recent onset, although the i.v. form acts quicker. The oral form of the drug does not alter significantly the patients' BP.
authors: University of Athens Medical School Department of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Greece. theodorosxanthos@yahoo.com
authors: Theodoros
authors: T
authors: Xanthos
authors: Eleni
authors: E
authors: Bassiakou
authors: Ioannis S
authors: IS
authors: Vlachos
authors: Sotirios
authors: S
authors: Bassiakos
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Michalakis
authors: Dimitris-Anestis
authors: DA
authors: Moutzouris
authors: Lila
authors: L
authors: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004077:Digoxin; D000638:Amiodarone