E UROPACE 2003 IAl 2 2 RIGHT VENTRICULARREFRACTORINESS REPOLARIZATION IN SUCCESSFULLY CARDIOVERTED PERSISTENT ATRIAL PATIENTS AND FIBRILLATION E.G. Man&, E.M. Kmoupakis, E.M. Kallergis, H.E. Mavmkis, H.K. Mouloudi, N.C. Klapsinos, P.E. Vardas. Cardiology Dept. Heraklion University Hospital Heraklion, Crete, Greece at I Al 2 3 EFFECT OF CARVEDILOL AND AMIODARONE PRE-TREATMENT ON PERSISTENT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION CONVERSION AND RECURRENCE RATES E.M. Kanoupakis, E.G. Mania, H.E. Maw&is, P.G. Tzerakis, H.K. Mouloudi, E.M. Kallergis, D.C. Kambouraki, M. Homatidis, P.E. Vardas. Cardiology Dept. Heraklion University Hospital Heraklion, Crete, Greece Aim: Carvedilol is a multiple action cardiovascular drug with blocking effects on beta and alpha receptors, Ca+2-channels, Nat-channels and various cardiac K’-channels. Such electrophysiological effects of carvedilol would be beneficial for cardioversion outcome and prevention of recurrences in atria1 fibrillation (AF) patients. In this prospective trial we examined the effects of carvedilol and amiodarone on persistent AF conversion and recurrence rates and we measured several electrophysiological parameters of the pre- and post-electmversion period in order to assess the possible effects of these drugs on atria1 electrical remodeling and whether these actions have any clinical implications. Methods: We evaluated 49 patients (66&9 years) with persistent AF (mean duration 30&34 months). They randomly assigned to three treatment groups over a period from 6 weeks before to 6 weeks after external biphasic cardioversion: group A (16 pts, Carvedilol, at a daily oral dose not less than 12,5 mg titrated up to a maximum of 50 mg), group B (17 patients, Amiodarone, 600 mg per day the first two weeks and subsequently 200 mg per day up to the end of the study) and group C (13 patients, no ant&rhythmic drugs). Several electrophysiological parameters were assessed 5 min and 24 h after cardioversion. Relapses of AF were recorded after 24 hours and 7 days. Results: All three groups had similar clinical and echocardiographical data. Cardioversion rates were 14117 (87%) in group A, 16117 (94%) in group B and 9115 (69%) in group C. These rates differed signiiicantly between controls (C) and groups A and B (F=5.848, p=O.OSO).Patients of groups A and B had longer fibrillatory cycle length intervals in the immediate preconversion period than patients of group C (X30&18 ms and X36&14 ms vs. 165&19 ms, p=O.OOl) and longer atria1 effective refractory periods (211&22 ms and 208&16 ms vs. X38&17 ms, p=O.O03) as assessed 5 min after conversion. There was a more B18 Europace Supplements, Vol. 4, December 2003 I Al 2 4 CAN WE USE THE ENDOCARDIAL SIGNALS FROM ATRIAL DEFHLRILLATING ELECTRODES JUST BEFORE AND JUST AFTER SUCCESSFUL INTERNAL CARDIOVERSION TO PREDICT EARLY RECURRENCES OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION? N. Shlevkov, A. Yang, J.O. Schwab, .I. Schrickel, A. Bitzen, H. Bielik, B. Luederitz, T.H. Lewalter. Department of Cardiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany Background: Unpredictable early reoccurrences of atria1 fibrillation (AF) after successful internal cardioversion (ICV) remain as an important clinical problem. However, the possible predicting role of endocardial signals from right atrium (RA) and distal coronary sinus (CS) both before and after successful ICV have not been yet investigated. Methods: Study population includes 44 consecutive patients (57&11 years, 32 males/l2 females) who underwent ICV due to unsuccessful external cardioversions of persistent AF (duration of AF: median=5 months, 25-75 percentiles: 2.14,5 months). The endocardial signals characteristics during AF 1 minute before the first ICV (monomorphic vs. at least temporally polymorphic at each RA and distal CS electrodes) and atria1 activation time between RA and distal CS signals in first 2 minutes of sinus rhythm after successful ICV were analyzed according to AF recurrences during the first 3 months after the ICV Results: Twenty five patients (56%) have had AF recurrences within 3 months of follow-up after the ICV. Patients with constantly monomorphic signals at distal CS electrode before ICV (n=ll) demonstrated signiiicantly lower AF recurrence rate within 3 months after the ICV (18% vs. 71%, p=O,OOl) comparing with those with at least temporally polymorphic signals. RA signals before the ICV as well as R/-distal CS atria1 activation time just after ICV (83&34 vs. 82&27 ms, p=O,7) did not differed significantly between patients with and without AF recurrences 3 months after the ICV Conclusions: (1) The presence of at least temporally polymorphic atria1 activity at distal CS was associated with poor clinical outcome in patients undergoing ICV of persistent AF. (2) Pre-procedural signals morphology at RA electrode and post-procedural atria1 activation time between RA and distal CS electrodes are of no clinical relevance. I Al 2 5 ELECTRICAL CARDIOVERSION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: COMPARISON OF MONOPHASIC BIPHASIC SHOCK WAVEFORMS AND S. Siaplaouras, A. Buob, C. Rotter, M. Bohm, .I. Jung. Internal Medicine III, Cardiology University Hospital HomburglSaal; Germany In a prospective study we compared the efficacy of electrical cardioversion (Cv) of atria1 fibrillation with a biphasic (Bi) versus a monophasic (MO) shock wavefoml. Methods: Consecutive patients (P) (n=216) underwent CV with Bi or MO in a random fashion. Energies used were 120-150-200 Ws (Bi, Zoll M-series biphasic, Zoll Medical) or 200-300-360 Ws (MO, Lifepak 9, Physio-Control). Results: Patient characteristics: mean age 66 years, 71% male, 88% underlying cardiovascular disease or hypertension. The 2 study groups (Bi, MO) did not differ concerning age, sex, body rims index, underlying cardiovascular disease, left atria1 diameter, duration of atria1 fibrillation and a&rhythmic therapy. CV was successful in 95.4% of the P. The success rate was comparable in both groups (Bi: 94.3% vs. MO 96.8%; p = ns). First shock efficacy did not differ between Bi and MO (76.4% vs. 67.7%; p = ns). The early relapse rate (AF-relapse < 1 minute after successful Cv) was 8.9% (Bi 8.1% vs. MO 9.7%, p = ns). Mean number of shocks was 1.4 shocks/P in both groups. The mean delivered energy was significantly lower in the Bi-group (Bi 186 Ws vs. MO 324 Ws; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Biphasic and monophasic shock waveforms used in this trial are comparable concerning the first shock and the cumulative shock efficacy. Biphasic cardioversion allows comparable SUCCESS rates with signiiicmtly lower energies. Downloaded from by guest on October 28, 2014 Introduction: Very rapid ventricular rates in certain animal species and in humans can result in stmchml and electrophysiological remodeling. So far it is largely unknown if the irregular and the transiently rapid ventricular rhythms during persistent or permanent atria1 fibrillation (AF) can result in changes of ventricular electrical properties. The aim of this study was to detect if restoration of sinus rhythm in persistent AF patients is associated with changes in ventricular refractoriness and repolarization and to explore their time course. Methods: In 33 persistent AF patients (64&S years old) who underwent successful cardioversion, right ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) at three basic cycle lengths (600,500,400 ms), as well as monophasic action potential duration (MAPdgo) at a drive cycle length of 500 ms, were measured just before, 20 min and 24 h after conversion. RR variability, an index of rhythm irregularity, was assessedin terms of SDRR and RMSSD obtained from Halter recordings 3 hours before cardioversion. Results: VERP 600 ms changed from 241&19 ms to 249&21 ms to 253&24 ms @<O.OOl), VERP at 500 ms changed from 234&19 ms to 242&22 ms to 246&23 ms (p<O.OOl) and VERP at 400 ms changed from 224&20 ms to 232&23 ms to 236&24 ms @<O.OOl). MAPdso changed from 247&16 ms preconversion to 252&17 ms 20 min postconversion to 253&19 ms after 24 hours (p< 0.05). Mean RR interval before cardioversion was 730&112 ms and 20 min after cardioversion it changed to 885&108 ms (p<O.OOl). A further, non-significant increase to 902&94 ms was observed 24 hours later (p=O.41). Change in refractoriness at 500 ms correlated with change of mean RR interval before and 20 min after conversion (R= 0.616, p<O.OOl) suggesting that those patients in whom sinus mean RR after conversion was longer than that of AF, exhibit prolongation of refractoriness, whereas those in whom sinus RR was shorter responded with a shortening of refractoriness. There was no correlation between RR variability and VERP before cardioversion. Conclusion: Restoration of sinus rhythm in persistent AF patients is associated with changes in ventricular refractoriness and repolatiation that depend on ventricular cycle length change. No relation of VERP during AF with rhythm irregularity was found. marked trend towards a higher incidence of AF relapses after 7 days in group C (419 44%) than in groups A (4114, 29%) and B (3116, 19%). Conclusions: Carvedilol seems to have similar effects with amiodarone regarding the conversion rates, prolongation of fibrillatory cycle length and atria1 effective refractory period in AF patients. These preliminary results of OUTstudy provide the first clinical and electrophysiological evidence suggesting that carvedilol may have a beneficial effect on cardioversion outcome and preservation of sinus rhythm after cardioversion of persistent AF.
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