Withdrawal Versus Continuation of Amiodarone in Successfully Treated Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2009-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Amiodarone is considered to be the most effective antiarrhythmic drug in the prevention of
persistent atrial fibrillation. It can however cause many adverse events, both cardiac and
non-cardiac. Long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion is difficult
especially because of high recurrence rates during the first month after cardioversion.
Duration of atrial fibrillation, type of underlying disease, left ventricular function, left
atrial size and age are associated with maintaining sinus rhythm. Early recurrence of atrial
fibrillation may be related to a highly arrhythmogenic period due to recovery from electrical
remodelling. Late recurrences may be related to other triggers than recovery from electrical
remodelling. In this study the investigators want to investigate the effect of amiodarone
withdrawal on the occurrence of late relapses of persistent atrial fibrillation. Furthermore,
the investigators want to investigate the effect of amiodarone withdrawal on the occurrence
of amiodarone related adverse events as well as adverse events related to atrial fibrillation
or underlying heart disease. The investigators also want to investigate which patients
characteristics are and potential triggers have a prognostic value in the occurence of late
relapses after amiodarone withdrawal.