International Digest

Propafenone v. quinidine therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 155: 734

Source: Lee SH, Chen SA, Chiang CE, Tai CT, Wen ZC, Wang SP, et al. Comparisons of oral propafenone and quinidine as an initial treatment option in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a double-blind, randomized trial. J Intern Med 1996; 239: 253-60.

Researchers in Taiwan randomly assigned 96 patients with no history of congestive heart failure or cardiac conduction disorder to receive oral propafenone (mean dose 615 mg/d) or oral quinidine (mean dose 1067 mg/d) for the initial treatment of frequent, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. After 3 months of treatment, attack frequency, symptom scores and average ventricular rate during atrial fibriallation were significantly lower in the propafenone group than in the quinidine group. A greater percentage of patients in the propafenone group than in the quinidine group had reductions of more than 75% in the frequency of attacks or were free from recurrences. The two groups showed a similar, low incidence of intolerable side effects.

| CMAJ September 15, 1996 (vol 155, no 6) |