BEPRIDIL REGULARIZES VENTRICULAR RESPONSEDURING ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN ACCORDANCE WITHPROLONGATION OF FIBRILLATION CYCLE LENGTH

摘要

Bepridil is effective not only in converting long-lasting atrial fibrillation (AF) but also in improving symptoms despite persistence of AF. The aim of this study was to investigate modification of ventricular response during AF by bepridil. Methods; For pharmacological conversion 35 consecutive patients (mean age of 60+-10 years) with AF lasting more than one month received bepridil (200mg/day) for 4 weeks. Before and 7 days after bepridil administration, fast-Fourier transform analysis of fibrillation waves was performed and simultaneously the maximum, the minimum, the mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of RR intervals within 90 sec period were determined. Results: Bepridil converted AF to sinus rhythm in 24 patients. In converters bepridil prolonged both the mean (from 0.77+-0.14 to 0.84+-0.14 sec, p<0.01), and the minimum RR intervals (from 0.47+-0.10 to 0.51+-0.10 sec, p<0.01), but did not change the maximum RR intervals. The CV of RR intervals decreased after bepridil (from 24+-4 to 22+-4 %,p<0.01), in accordance with the increase in fibrillation cycle length (from 149+-25 to 185+-32 msec, p<0.01). Conclusion: Bepridil is effective not only in increasing the mean and the minimum RR intervals but also in regularizing ventricular response during AF.