title: Antiarrhythmic effect of bisoprolol, a highly selective beta1-blocker, in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
abstract: In the treatment of arrhythmia, beta-blockers are mainly used to regulate the heart rate. However, beta-blockers are also known as drugs with an antiarrhythmic effect due to the suppression of sympathetic activity. We evaluated the antiarrhythmic effects of a highly selective beta(1)-blocker, bisoprolol, in patients with diurnal paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (P-AF). A total of 136 patients with symptomatic diurnal P-AF were enrolled. Patients were divided into a diurnal-specific P-AF group and a diurnal & nocturnal P-AF group, as well as into a bisoprolol single use group and a combined use group with an antiarrhythmic drug. The effects of bisoprolol were evaluated in 3 categories: subjective symptom improvement, quality of life (QOL) improvement, and elimination of P-AF episode in Holter electrocardiograms (ECGs). For patients with effective treatment, a long-term effect up to 24 months was evaluated. Five patients (3.7%) discontinued bisoprolol due to side effects. Following administration of bisoprolol, 109 patients (80%) experienced subjective symptom improvement, 103 patients (76%) experienced QOL improvement, and elimination of P-AF episodes in ECGs was observed in 84 patients (62%). The elimination rate of P-AF episodes in ECGs was higher in the diurnal P-AF group than in the diurnal & nocturnal P-AF group (P=0.042). There was no significant difference between the bisoprolol single use group and the combined use group. A long-term suppressive effect by bisoprolol was observed in 70 of 83 patients (84%). The results demonstrate that bisoprolol has an antiarrhythmic effect against sympathetic diurnal P-AF, improving subjective symptoms and QOL and eliminating P-AF episodes in ECGs.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruhisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsukada
authors.forename: Hisaaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mera
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yusu
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshino
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017298:Bisoprolol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1; D017298:Bisoprolol