title: Effect of a single bolus injection of low-dose hydrocortisone for prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transient use of corticosteroid shortly after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation might prevent immediate and mid-term AF recurrence; however, the effective dosage for preventing AF recurrence has not been determined. In this study, we evaluated whether low-dose hydrocortisone is effective for the prevention of AF recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 89 AF patients (70 males, 55.8 ± 10.9 years) who underwent RF ablation and were treated with single bolus injection of 100mg hydrocorticosteroid (corticosteroid group). For the control group, we enrolled 120 sex- and age-matched AF patients (94 males, 55.4 ± 10.5 years). Pericarditis occurred in 3 (2.5%) and 1 (1.1%) patients in the control and corticosteroid groups, respectively. The number of patients with immediate AF recurrence (≤ 2 days) was 17 (14.5%) and 11 (12.4%) in the control and steroid groups, respectively (P=0.687). Treatment with low-dose steroid did not decrease early (3-30 days) AF recurrence (13 [11.1%] vs. 11 [12.5%], P=0.829) or late (≥ 31 days) AF recurrence after ablation (26 [22.2%] vs. 13 [14.6%], P=0.209). There was no difference in cumulative survival free of late AF recurrence between the corticosteroid and control groups (P=0.57 by log-rank test). White blood cell count, C-reactive protein concentration and maximum body temperature also were unchanged by low-dose steroid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single bolus injection of low-dose hydrocortisone after AF ablation is not effective for preventing AF recurrence during the mid-term follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Medical College, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hoyoun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Jong-Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jaemin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Jae-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Uhm
authors.forename: Hui-Nam
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: Moon-Hyoung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Boyoung
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006854:Hydrocortisone