HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Intravenous dofetilide, a class III antiarrhythmic agent, for the termination of sustained atrial fibrillation or flutter. Intravenous Dofetilide Investigators.

AbstractOBJECTIVES:
This study sought to determine the safety and efficacy of a single bolus of intravenous dofetilide, a pure class III antiarrhythmic agent, for the termination of sustained atrial fibrillation or flutter.
BACKGROUND:
Dofetilide is a highly selective blocker of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier current causing action potential prolongation. These effects, and preliminary clinical data, suggest that it may be effective in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter.
METHODS:
Ninety-one patients with sustained atrial fibrillation (75 patients) or flutter (16 patients) were entered into a double-blind, randomized multicenter study of one of two doses of dofetilide (4 or 8 micrograms/kg body weight) or placebo.
RESULTS:
Dofetilide effectively terminated the arrhythmia in 31% of patients receiving 8 micrograms/kg, a statistically significant difference from those receiving 4 micrograms/kg (conversion rate 12.5%, p < 0.05) or placebo (no conversion, p < 0.01). Patients with atrial flutter had a greater response to dofetilide (54% conversion rate) than those with atrial fibrillation (14.5% conversion rate, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
Intravenous dofetilide can convert sustained atrial fibrillation or flutter to sinus rhythm. However, its efficacy is greater in flutter--a response that contrasts with the poorer response seen with class I agents. This finding potentially represents an important advance in the pharmacologic termination of atrial flutter.
AuthorsR H Falk, A Pollak, S N Singh, T Friedrich
JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology (J Am Coll Cardiol) Vol. 29 Issue 2 Pg. 385-90 (Feb 1997) ISSN: 0735-1097 [Print] United States
PMID9014993 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)
Chemical References
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Phenethylamines
  • Sulfonamides
  • dofetilide
Topics
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Atrial Fibrillation (drug therapy)
  • Atrial Flutter (drug therapy)
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Hemodynamics (drug effects)
  • Humans
  • Phenethylamines (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Sulfonamides (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Treatment Outcome

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: