TY - JOUR
T1 - Prospective comparison of flecainide versus quinidine for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation/flutter
AU - Naccarelli, Gerald
AU - Dorian, Paul
AU - Hohnloser, Stefan H.
AU - Coumel, Philippe
N1 - Funding Information:
From the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas USA (G.V.N.); St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (P.D.); Klinikum der Albert Ludwigs Univer-sitat, Freiburg, Germany (S.H.H.); and Lariboisiere University Hospital, Paris, France (P.C.). This study was supported by a grant from 3M Pharmaceutrcals, Paul, Minnesota. See Appendix for study group participants.
PY - 1996/1/25
Y1 - 1996/1/25
N2 - In order to compare the efficacy and long-term tolerability of flecainide acetate versus quinidine, 239 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were prospectively treated with flecainide (n = 122) or quinidine (n = 117) in an open-label, randomized trial. All patients were followed for 1 year after initiation of therapy unless their antiarrhythmic drug was discontinued due to an inadequate therapeutic response or intolerable side effects. Although bath drugs were equally effective in adequately controlling recurrences of atrial fibrillation (difference, p = 0.282; not significant), fewer flecainide patients had to have their therapy discontinued due to adverse experiences (p = 0.012). Based on hath endpoints (efficacy and tolerability), an estimated 70.5% of flecainide versus 55.4% of quinidine patients would remain effectively treated at the end of 1 year on therapy (p ≤0.007). The findings of this prospective study suggest that in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (1) flecainide and quinidine are equally effective in the acceptable suppression of symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; (2) flecainide is better tolerated than quinidine and is less likely to be discontinued due to adverse effects; and (3) given the overall endpoint of efficacy and tolerability, more patients are likely to continue long-term therapy with flecainide than with quinidine.
AB - In order to compare the efficacy and long-term tolerability of flecainide acetate versus quinidine, 239 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were prospectively treated with flecainide (n = 122) or quinidine (n = 117) in an open-label, randomized trial. All patients were followed for 1 year after initiation of therapy unless their antiarrhythmic drug was discontinued due to an inadequate therapeutic response or intolerable side effects. Although bath drugs were equally effective in adequately controlling recurrences of atrial fibrillation (difference, p = 0.282; not significant), fewer flecainide patients had to have their therapy discontinued due to adverse experiences (p = 0.012). Based on hath endpoints (efficacy and tolerability), an estimated 70.5% of flecainide versus 55.4% of quinidine patients would remain effectively treated at the end of 1 year on therapy (p ≤0.007). The findings of this prospective study suggest that in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (1) flecainide and quinidine are equally effective in the acceptable suppression of symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; (2) flecainide is better tolerated than quinidine and is less likely to be discontinued due to adverse effects; and (3) given the overall endpoint of efficacy and tolerability, more patients are likely to continue long-term therapy with flecainide than with quinidine.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0002-9149(97)89118-7
DO - 10.1016/S0002-9149(97)89118-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 8607392
AN - SCOPUS:0030039434
SN - 0002-9149
VL - 77
SP - 53A-59A
JO - American Journal of Cardiology
JF - American Journal of Cardiology
IS - 3
ER -