New Results from Trials in Atrial Fibrillation

Ryder KM, Benjamin EJ. Epidemiology and significance of atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 1999;84:131R–138R.

Benjamin EJ, Wolf PA, D'Agostino RB, Silbershatz H, Kannel WB, Levy D. Impact of atrial fibrillation on the risk of death The Framingham Heart Study. Circulation 1998;98:946–952.

Dorian P, Jung W, Newman D, Paquette M, Wood K, Ayers GM, Camm J, Akhtar M, Luderitz B. The impairment of health related quality of life in patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation: Implications for the assessment of investigational therapy. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;36:1303–1309.

Wolf PA, Mitchell JB, Baker CS, Kannell WB, D'Agostino RB, Impact of atrial fibrillation on mortality, stroke and medical costs. Arch Int Med 1998;158:229–234.

Dries DL, Exner DV, Gersh BJ, Domanski MJ, Waclawiw MA, Stevensn LW. Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk for mortality and heart failure progression in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction: A retrospective analysis of the SOLVD trial Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction. J Am Coll Cardiol 1998;32.

Pedersen OD, Bagger H, Kober L, Torp-Pedersen C, on behalf of the TRACE Study Group. Trandolopril reduces the incidence of atrial fibrillation after acute myocardial infarction in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Circulation 1999;100:376–380.

Rathmore SS, Berger AK, Weinfurt KP, Schulman KA, Oetgen WJ, Gersh BJ, Solomon AJ. Acute myocardial infarction complicated by atrial fibrillation in the elderly prevalence and outcomes. Circulation 2000;101:969–974.

Crenshaw BS, Ward SR, Granger CB, Stebbins AL, Topol EJ, Califf RM, for the GUSTO-I Trial Investigators. Atrial fibrillation in the setting of acute myocardial infarction: The GUSTO-I experience. J Am Coll Cardiol 1997;30:406–413.

Zimetbaum PJ, Josephson ME, McDonald MJ, McClennen S, Korley V, Ho KKL, Papageorgiou P, Cohen DJ. Incidence and predictors of myocardial infarction among patients with atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;36:1223–1227.

Connolly SJ. Anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation and risk factors for stroke. Br Med J 2000;320:1219–1220.

Ezekowitz MD, Levine JA. Preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. JAMA 1999;281:1830–1835.

Hart RG, Benavente O, McBride R, Pearce LA. Antithrombotic therapy to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation: A meta-analysis. Ann Int Med 1999;131:492–501.

Pengo V, Zasso A, Barbero F, Banzato A, Nante G, Parissenti L, John N, Noventa F, Dalla Volta S., effectiveness of fixed minidoes warfarin in the prevention of thromboembolism and vascular death in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 1998;82:433–437.

Hart RG, Pearce LA, Rothbart RM, McAnulty JH, Asinger RW, Halperin JL. Stroke with intermittent atrial fibrillation: Incidence and predictors during therapy. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;35:183–187.

Hohnloser SH, Kuck K-H, Lilienthal J, for the PIAF Investigators, Rhythm or rate control in atrial fibrillation—Pharmacological Intervention in Atrial Fibrillation (PIAF): A randomised trial. Lancet 2000;356:1789–1794.

Affirm Investigators. Atrial fibrillation follow up investigation of rhythm management—The AFFIRM Study Design. Am J Cardiol 1997;79:1198–1202.

Farshi R, Kistner D, Sarma SMS, Longmate JA, Singh BN. Ventricular rate control in chronic atrial fibrillation during daily activity and programmed exercise: A cross over open label study of five drug regimens. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;33:304–310.

Wood MA, Brown-Mahoney C, Kay GN, Ellenbogen KA. Clinical outcomes after ablation and pacing therapy for atrial fibrillation a meta analysis. Circulation 2000;101:1138–1144.

Brignole M, Menozzi C, Gianfraanchi L, Musso G, Mureddu R, Bottoni N, Lolli G. Assessment of atrioventricular junction ablation and VVIR pacemaker versus pharmacological treatment in patients with heart failure and chronic atrial fibrillation: A Randomized Controlled Study. Circulation 1998;98:953–960.

Marshall HJ, Harris ZI, Griffith MJ, Holder RL, Gammage MD. Prospective randomized study of ablation and pacing versus medical therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation effects of pacing mode and mode-switch algorithm. Circulation 1999;99:1587–1592.

Gribbin GM, Bourke JP, McComb JM. Predictors of atrial rhythm after atrioventricular node ablation for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial arrhythmias. Heart 1998;79:548–553.

Levy T, Walker S, Rex S, Paul V. Ablate and pace for drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation Is ablation necessary? Int J Cardiol 2000;75:187–195.

Proclemer A, della Bella P, Tondo C, Facchin D, Carbucicchio C, Riva S, Fioretta P. Radiofrequency ablation of atrioventricular junction and pacemaker implantation versus modulation of atrioventricular conduction in drug refractory atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 1999;83:1437–1442.

Van Gelder IC, Tuinenburg AE, Schoonderwoerd BS, Tieleman RG, Crijns HJGM. Pharmacologic versus direct-current electrical cardioversion of atrial flutter and fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 1999;84:147R–151R.

Murray KT. Ibutilide. Circulation 1998;97:493–497.

Mounsey JP, DiMarco JP, Dofetilide. Circulation 2000;102:2665–2670.

Pritchett ELC, Page RL, Connolly SJ, Marcello SR, Schnell DJ, Wilkinson WE, and Azimilide Supraventricular Arrhythmia Program 3 (SVA-3) Investigators, Antiarrhythmic effects of azimilide in atrial fibrillation: Efficacy and dose response. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;36:794–802.

Chung MK, Schweikert PA, Wilkoff BL, Niebauer MJ, Pinski SL, Trohman RG, Kidwell GA, Jaeger FJ, Morant VA, Miller DP, Tchou PJ. Is hospital admission for initiation of antiarrhythmic therapy with sotalol for atrial arrhythmias required? Yield of in hospital monotoring and prediction of significant risk for significant arrhythmia complications. J Am Coll Cardiol 1998;32:169–176.

Reiffel JA. Inpatient versus outpatient antiarrhythmic drug initiation: Safety and cost effectiveness issues. Curr Op Cardiol 2000;15:7–11.

Connolly SJ. Evidence based analysis of amiodarone efficacy and safety. Circulation 1999;100:2025–2034.

Roy D, Talajic M, Dorian P, Connolly S, Eisenberg MJ, Green M, Kus T, Lambert J, Dubuc MMM, Gagne P, Nattel S, Thibault B. Amiodarone to prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation Canadian Trial of Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. N Engl J Med 2000;342:913–920.

Kochiadakis GE, Igoumenidis NE, Parthenakis FI, Chlouverakis GI, Vardas PE. Amiodarone versus propafenone for conversion of chronic atrial fibrillation: Results of a randomized controlled study. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;33:966–971.

Martinez-Marcos FJ, Garcia-Garmendia JL, Ortega-Carpio A, Fernandez-Gomez JM, Santos JM, Camacho C. Comparison of intravenous flecainide, propafenone and amiodarone for conversion of acute atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm. Am J Cardiol 2000;86:950–953.

Kochiadakis GE, Igoumenidis NE, Marketou ME, Solomou MC, Kanoupakis EM, Vardas PE. Low dose amiodarone versus sotalol for suppression of recurrent symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 1998;81:995–998.

Southworth MR, Zarembski D, Viana M, Bauman J. Comparison of sotalol versus quinidine for maintenance of normal sinus rhythm in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 1999;83:1269–1632.

Deedwania PC, Singh B, Ellenbogen K, Fisher S, Fletcher R, Singh RN. Spontaneous conversion and maintenance of sinus rhythm by amiodarone in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation: Observations from the veterans affairs congestive heart failure survival trial of antiarrhythmic therapy (CHF-STAT). Circulation 1998;98:2574–2579.

Oral H, Sonza JJ, Michaud GF, Knight BP, Goyal R, Strickberger SA, Morady F. Facilitating transthoracic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation with ibutilide pre treatment. N Engl J Med 1999;340:1849–1854.

Singh S, Zoble RG, Yellen L, Brodsky MA, Feld GK, Berk M, Billing CB, for the Dofetilide Atrial Fibrillation Investigators, Efficacy and safety of oral dofetilide in converting to and maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. The Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation Investigative Research on Dofetilide (SAFIRE-D) Study. Circulation 2000;102:2385–2390.

Torp-Pedersen C, Moller M, Bloch-Thomsen PE, Kober L, Sandoe E, Egstrup K, Agner E, Carlsen J, Videbaek J, Marchant B, Camm AJ, for the Danish investigations of arrhythmia and mortality on dofetilide study group, Dofetilide in patients with congestive heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction. N Engl J Med 1999;341:857–865.

Torp-Pedersen C, Moller M, Kober L, Camm AJ. Dofetilide for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with congestive heart failure. Eur Heart J 2000;21:1204–1206.

Bianconi L, Castro A, Dinelli M, Alboni P, Pappalardo A, Richiardi E, Santini M. Comaprison of intravenously administered defetilide versus amiodarone in the acute termination of atrial fibrillation and flutter. A multicentre randomised double blind placebo controlled study. Eur Heart J 2000;21:1265–1273.

Kuhlkamp V, Schirdewan A, Stangl K, Homberg M, Ploch M, Beck OA. Use of metoprolol CR/XL to maintain sinus rhythm after conversion from persistent atrial fibrillation A randomized double blind placebo controlled study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;36:139–146.

Murgatroyd FD, Gibson SM, Baiyan X, O'Nunain S, Poloniecki JD, Ward DE, Malik M, Camm AJ, for the Controlled Randomized Atrial Fibrillation (CRAFT) Investigators, Double-blind placebocontrolled trial of digoxin in symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Circulation 1999;99:2765–2770.

Wijffels MCEF, Kirchof CJHJ, Dorland R, Allessie M., AF begets AF: A study in awake chronically instrumented goats. Circulation 1995;92:1954–1968.

Tieleman RG, Van Gelder IC, Crijns HJGM, De Kam PJ, Van Den Berg MP, Haaksma J, Van Der Woude HJ, Allessie MA. Early recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion: A result of fibrillation: Induced electrical remodelling of the atria? J Am Coll Cardiol 1998;31:167–173.

De Simone A, Stabile G, Vitale DF, Turco P, Di Stasio M, Petrazzuoli F, Gasparini M, De Matteis C, Rotunno R, Di Napoli T. Pretreatment with verapamil in patients with persistent or chronic atrial fibrillation who underwent electrical cardioversion. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;34:810–814.

Yu W-C, Chen S-A, Lee S-H, Tai C-T, Feng A-N, Kuo B I-T, Ding Y-A, Chang M-S. Tachycardia-induced change of atrial refractory period in humans rate dependency and effects of antiarrhythmic drugs. Circulation 1998;97:2331–2337.

Pandozi C, Bianconi L, Calo L, Castro A, Lamberti F, Scianaro MC, Gentilucci G, Santini M. Post cardioversion atrial electrophysiologic changes induced by oral verapamil in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. J AmColl Cardiol 2000;36:2234–2241.

Lee S-H, Yu W-C, Cheng J-J, Hung C-HH, Ding Y-A, Chang M-S, Chen S-A. Effect of verapamil on long term tachycardia induced atrial electrical remodelingJ Am Coll Cardiol 2000;101:200–206.

Connolly SJ, Kerr C, Gent M, Roberts RS, Yusuf S. Dual chamber versus ventricular pacing: Critical appraisal of current data. Circulation 1996;94:578–583.

Sutton R, Bourgeois I, Cost benefit analysis of single and dual chamber pacing for sick sinus syndrome and atrioventricular block. An economic sensitivity analysis of the literature. Eur Heart J 1996;17:574–582.

Lamas GA, Orav EJ, Stambler BS, Ellenbogen KA, Sgarbossa EB, Huang SKS, Marinchak RA, Estes NAM, Mitchell GF, Lieberman EH, Mangione CM, Goldman L, for the Pasemaker Selection in the Elderly Investigators, Quality of life and clinical outcomes in elderly patients treated with ventricular pacing as compared with dual chamber pacing. N Engl Med J 1998;338:1097–1104.

Connolly SJ, Kerr C, Gent M, Roberts RS, Yusuf S, Gillis AM, Sami MH, Talajic M, Tang ASL, Klein GJ, Lau C, Newman DM, for the Canadian Trial of Physiologic Pacing Investigators, Effects of physiologic pacing versus ventricular pacing on the risk of stroke and death due to cardiovascular causes. N Engl J Med 2000;342:1385–1391.

Gillis AM, Kerr C, Whither physiologic pacing? Implications of CTOPP. PACE 2000;23:1193–1196.

Garrigue S, Barrold SS, Cazeau S, Gensil L, Jaïs P, Haïssaguerre M, Clémenty J. Prevention of atrial arrhythmias during DDD pacing by atrial overdrive. PACE 1998;21:1751–1759.

Levy T, Walker S, Rochelle J, Paul V. Evaluation of biatrial pacing, right atrial pacing, and no pacing in patients with drug refractory atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 1999;84:426–429.

Delfault P, Saksena S, Prakash A, Krol RB. Longterm outcome of patients with drug refractory atrial flutter and fibrillation after single and dual-site right atrial pacing for arrhythmia prevention. J Am Coll Cardiol 1998;32:1900–1908.

Stabile G, Senatore G, De Simone A, Turco P, Coltorti F, Nocerino P, Vitale DF, Chiariello M. Determinants of efficacy of atrial pacing in preventing atrial fibrillation recurrences. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 1999;10:2–9.

Gillis AM, Wyse DG, Connolly SJ, Dubuc M, Philippon F, Yee R, Lacombe P, Rose MS Kerr CD, for the Atrial Pacing PeriAblation for Paroxsmal Atrial Fibrillation (PA3) Study Investigators, Atrial pacing periablation for the prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Circulation 1999;99:2553–2558.

Yu W-C, Chen S-A, Tai C-T, Feng A-N, Chang M-S. effects of different atrial pacing modes on atrial electrophysiology. Circulation 1997;96:2992–2996.

Gaita F, Ricardia R, Calol, Scaglione M, Garberoglio L, Antolini R, Kirchner M, Lamberti F, Richiardi E. Atrial mapping and radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with idiopathic atrial fibrillation: Electrophysiologic findings and ablation results. Circulation 1998;97:2136–2145.

Jaïs P, Shah DC, Haïssaguerre M, Takahashi A, Lavergne T, Hocini M, Garrigue S, Barold SS, Le Metayer P, Clémenty J. Efficacy and safety of septal and left atrial linear ablation fot atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 1999;84:139R–146R.

Pappone C, Oreti G, Lamberti F, Vicedomini G, Loricchio ML, Shpun S, Rillo M, Calabro MP, Conversano A, Ben-Haim SA, Cappato R, Chierchia S. Catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using a 3-D mapping system. Circulation 1999;100:1203–1208.

Jaïs P, Haïssaguerre M, Shah DC, Chouairi S, Gencel L, Hocini M, Clémenty J. A focal source of atrial fibrillation treated by discrete radiofrequency ablation. Circulation 1997;95:572–576.

Haïssaguerre M, Jaïs P, Shah DC, Takahashi A, Hocini M, Quiniou G, Garrigue S, Le Mouroux A, Le Metayer P, Clémenty J. Spontaneous initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats arising in the pulmonary veins. N Engl J Med 1998;339:659–666.

Chen SA, Hsieh MH, Tai CT, Tsai CF, Prakash VS, Yu WC, Hsu TL, Ding YA, Chang MS. Initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating from the pulmonary veins: Electrophysiologic characteristics, pharmacological responses and effects of radiofrequency ablation. Circulation 1999;100:1879–1886.

Geelen P, O'Hara GE, Roy N, Talajic M, Roy D, Plante S, Turgeon J. Comparison of propafenone versus procainide for the acute treatment of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. Am J Cardiol 1999;84:345–347.

VanderLught JT, Mattioni T, Denker S, Torchiana D, Ahern T, Wakefield LK, Perry KT, Kowey PR, for the Ibutilide investigators. Efficacy and safety of ibutilide fumarate for the conversion of atrial arrhythmias after cardiac surgery. Circulation 1999;100:369–375.

Daoud EG, Strickberger A, Man KC, Goyal R, Deeb GM, Bolling SF, Pagani FD, Bitar C, Meissner MD, Morady F. Preoperative amiodarone as prophylaxis against atrial fibrillation after heart surgery. N Engl J Med 1997;337:1785–1791.

Lee S-H, Chang C-M, Lu M-J, Lee R-J, Cheng J-J, Hung C-R, Chen S-A. Intravenus amiodarone for prevention of atrial fibrillation after cornary artery bypass grafting. Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:157–161.

Guarnieri T, Nolan S, Gottlieb SO, Dudek A, Lowry DR. Intravenous amiodarone for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after open heart surgery: the amiodarone reduction in coronary heart (ARCH) trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;34:343–347.

Dorge H, Schoendube FA, Schoberer M, Stellbrink C, Voss M, Messmer BJ. Intraoperative amiodarone as prophylaxis against atrial fibrillation after coronary operations. Ann Thorac Surg 2000;69:1358–1362.

Gomes JA, IP J, Santoni-Rugiu F, Mehta D, Ergin A, Lansman S, Pe E, Newhouse TT, Chao S. Oral d,l sotalol reduces the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in coronary artery bypass surgery patients: A randomised double blind placebo controlled study. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;34:334–339.

Evrard P, Gonzalez M, Jamart J, Malhomme B, Blommaert D, Eucher P, Installe E. Prophylaxis of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias after coronary artery bypass grafting with low dose sotalol. Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:151–156.

Parikka H, Toivonen L, Heikkila L, Virtanen K, Jarvinen A. Comparison of sotalol and metoprolol in the prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1998;31:67–73.

Solomon AJ, Berger AK, Trivedi KK, Hannan RL, Katz NM. The combination of propranolol and magnesium does not prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation. Ann Thorac Surg 2000;69:126–129.

Kurz DJ, Naegeli B, Kunz M, Genoni M, Niederhauser U, Bertel O, Epicardial biatrial synchronous pacing for prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. PACE 1999;22:721–726.

Gerstenfeld EP, Hill MRS, French SN, Mehra R, Rofino K, Van der Salm TJ, Mittleman RS. Evaluation of right atrial and biatrial temporary pacing for prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. J AmColl Cardiol 1999;33:1981–1988.

Daoud EG, Dabir R, Archambeau M, Morady F, Strickberger SA. Randomized double blind trial of simultaneous right and left atrial pacing for prevention of post open heart surgery atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2000;102:761–765.

Levy T, Fotopoulos G, Walker S, Rex S, Octave M, Paul V, Amrani M. Randomized controlled study investigating the effect of biatrial pacing in prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. Circulation 2000;102:1382–1387.

Fan K, Lee KL, Chiu CS, Lee JW, He GW, Cheung D, Sun MP, Lau CP. Effects of biatrial pacing in prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery. Circulation 2000;2000:755–760.