Effects of antiarrhythmic drug use on atrial fibrillation recurrence in atrial fibrillation patients post circumferential pulmonary vein ablation / 中华心血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This prospective and randomize-controlled trial was designed to investigate the effects of antiarrhythmic drug use (AADs) on atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in atrial fibrillation patients post circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CAPV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-four consecutive AF patients underwent CAPV (41 paroxysmal and 33 drug refractory AF) were randomly assigned to receive placebo (Group A) or AADs (Group B) for 3 months. Monthly standard electrocardiograms (ECG) and Holter monitoring were performed to assess AF recurrences during 17 - 28 months follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CAPV was successful in all patients. The recurrence rate of AF in Group B was significantly lower than that in Group A at 3 months post CAPV (13.5% vs. 37.8%, P < 0.01) and similar thereafter (29.7% vs. 24.3% at 12 months and 8.1% vs. 8.1% at more than 12 months, all P > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in terms of total recurrence rate between the two groups (37.8% vs. 32.4%, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Post CAPV antiarrhythmic drug therapy could only decrease the early AF recurrence rate but was not effective for decreasing AF recurrence rate on later stage.</p>