title: Rapid slowing of the atrial fibrillatory rate after administration of AZD7009 predicts conversion of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effects on the atrial fibrillatory rate (AFR) were studied during infusion with the combined potassium and sodium channel blocker AZD7009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) were randomized to AZD7009 or placebo. Thirty-five patients converted to sinus rhythm (SR) and were matched to 35 non-converters. The mean AFR before conversion was 231 fibrillations per minute (fpm), having decreased by 41%; in non-converters, it was 296 fpm at the end of infusion, having decreased by 26%. The rate of decrease was greater in converters at 5 min, -88 vs. -66 fpm (p=0.02), and at 10 min, -133 vs. -111 fpm (p=0.048). The AFR-SD and the exponential decay decreased. A small left atrial area was the only baseline predictor of conversion to SR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AZD7009 produced a significantly more rapid decrease of the AFR in converters than in non-converters, but the AFR at baseline was not predictive of conversion.
authors: AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.aunes@astrazeneca.com.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Aunes
authors: OUH Svendborg Sygehus, Svendborg, Denmark.
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Egstrup
authors: AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Frison
authors: AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Berggren
authors: Department of Electrical and Information Technology and Center for Integrative Electrocardiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Stridh
authors: Department of Electrical and Information Technology and Center for Integrative Electrocardiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors: Leif
authors: L
authors: Sörnmo
authors: Sahlgrenska Academy at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors: Nils
authors: N
authors: Edvardsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C514242:AZD 7009; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D009930:Organic Chemicals
keywords: AZD7009; Atrial fibrillation; Atrial fibrillatory rate; Conversion