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Document Details : Title: Extensive antiarrhythmic drugs after catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation Author(s): J. Gu , X. Liu , H. Tan , L. Zhou , J. Gu , W. Jiang , Y. Wang , Y. Liu Journal: Acta Cardiologica Volume: 67 Issue: 4 Date: 2012 Pages: 407-414 DOI: 10.2143/AC.67.4.2170681 Abstract : Objective: Whether early rhythm suppression with extensive antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation decreases arrhythmia recurrence is unknown. We now report the 12-month follow-up data in this prospective and randomized study. Methods and results: 123 consecutive patients with persistent AF undergoing catheter ablation were randomly divided into an extensive AADs therapy group (group 1: 62 patients using both class Ic and III AADs) or one AAD therapy group (group 2: 61 patients using class Ic or III AADs alone) for the initial 2 months after ablation. Recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATa) was valuated at both 2 months and 12 months following ablation. During the first 2 months after ablation, less ATa were found in group 1 compared with group 2 (17/62 versus 29/61, P = 0.021). However, there was no difference with regard to ATa at 12 months between the groups (21/62 versus 22/61, P = 0.799). ATa at 2 months and left atrial diameter (LAD) were the statistically significant predictors of ATa during 12-month follow-up. Conclusions: While use of extensive AADs within the initial 2 months after persistent AF ablation decreases early ATa, it does not prevent late ATa. Moreover, LAD as well as early ATa is a strong predictor of ATa at 12 months. |
