title: Decrease of the atrial fibrillatory rate, increased organization of the atrial rhythm and termination of atrial fibrillation by AZD7009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The atrial fibrillatory rate (AFR), on AZD7009 as compared to placebo, was investigated as a potential biomarker for electrophysiological effect in early antiarrhythmic drug development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with permanent AF received infusions of AZD7009 and placebo in an exploratory two-way, single-blind, randomized cross-over study. The ECG was continuously recorded, and following QRST cancellation the AFR, its standard deviation (SD), the exponential decay and the atrial electrogram amplitude were determined as 3-min averages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean AFR rapidly decreased by 43% from baseline (394 ± 38 to 225 ± 61 fibrillations/min, p=0.0003) on AZD7009, but not on placebo. The SD of the AFR and the exponential decay decreased in parallel. In 2 of 8 patients, termination of AF occurred after the AFR had decreased by 58% and 53%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AFR may potentially serve as a biomarker of electrophysiological effects in early evaluation of rhythm control agents.
authors.affiliation: AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden. maria.aunes-jansson@astrazeneca.com
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aunes-Jansson
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Edvardsson
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stridh
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sörnmo
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frison
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berggren
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015990:Placebo Effect; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C514242:AZD 7009; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D009930:Organic Chemicals