Amiodarone to prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation

This study was an open-label, randomised, prospective, multicenter trial investigation of the comparative efficacy of amiodarone versus sotalol or propafenone in the prevention of recurrence of atrial fibrillation.

The study enrolled 403 patients who had had at least one episode of atrial fibrillation within the previous six months.

The patient were initially randomised to amiodarone (201) or sotalol/propafenone. Those randomised to sotalol/propafenone underwent a second randomisation to determine whether they received sotalol (101) or propafenone (101); if the first drug was unsuccessful the second agent was prescribed.

Loading of the drugs was performed as usual. When required, electrical cardioversion was performed witin 21 days of randomisation.

Patients were followed up for a mean of 16 months.

Reference:

• 1) Denis Roy, Mario Talajic, Paul Dorian, Stuart Connolly, Mark J. Eisenberg, Martin Green, Teresa Kus, Jean Lambert, Marc Dubuc, Pierre Gagne, Stanley Nattel, Bernard Thibault, for the Canadian Trial of Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. (2000) Amiodarone to Prevent Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med 342, 913-20