METHODS FOR STROKE REDUCTION IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION PATIENTS

摘要

The subject invention provides methods for reducing stroke rate, methods for preventing atrial remodeling, and methods for reversing atrial remodeling by administering a multiple ion channel blocker anti-arrhythmic to reduce atrial fibrillation (AF) episode duration and an anticoagulant (AC). According to some methods of the invention, the average AF episode duration can be reduced to less than about 24, 5, 3 or 1 hour(s), and the maximum AF episode duration may be reduced to less than about 20, 10 or 5 hours. According to some methods of the invention, the reduced stroke rate upon administration of multiple ion channel blocker and AC is less than the age-adjusted overall stroke rate. Further, some methods provide that patients who were refractory to one or more anti-arrhythmic drugs prior to administration of the multiple ion channel blocker may also be treated. Some methods provide for prevention of atrial remodeling and others provide for the reversal of atrial remodeling, including methods to quantify the reversal of atrial remodeling. In some methods of the invention, budiodarone is administered 400 mg BID or more preferably 600 mg BID.