title: [Efficacy and safety of allapinine and quinidine bisulphate in the treatment of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after cardioversion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess and compare the safety and efficacy of allapinine and quinidine bisulphate in the treatment of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after cardioversion. Design--Prospective, randomised, open study. Patients--73 consecutive patients (men only, mean age 44 ± 11 years) with persisnent atrial fibrillation and flutter. Interventions--37 patients were randomised to allapinine (ALP) (1.5 mg/kg/d), 36 to quinidine bisulphate (QUIN) (15 mg/kg/d) with subsequent successful pharmacological or electrical cardioversion. Main outcome measures--Recurrence of atrial fibrillation or side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the ALP group 15 of the 37 patients developed atrial fibrillation up to 12 month of follow-up, while in the QUIN group 20 patients developed atrial fibrillation and 5 experienced significant side effects. Relative risk (RR) (ALP vs QUIN) 0.58 (95% CI 0.37-0.91, p < 0.02). The number needed to treat (NNT) was (-3.48) (14.2-1.97 harm). When 5 patients with significant side effects were excluded from the analysis RR was 0.62 (95% CI 0.39-1.0, p = 0.052) and NNT--(-4.1) (122.7-2.1 harm) but power of the study was too low--67%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allapinine is as effective as quinidine bisulphate in the long term treatment of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after successful cardioversion but causes significantly less side effects.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rakhmanova
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Sokolov
mesh_terms: D000157:Aconitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011802:Quinidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; C009764:quinidine bisulfate; C051402:allapinin; D011802:Quinidine; D000157:Aconitine