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Unresponsive Afib Patients Fare Better with Catheter Ablation Than with Antiarrhythmic Drugs
For patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who haven't responded to drug therapy, using catheter ablation is more effective than trying a different antiarrhythmic drug, according to a JAMA study. (The catheter's manufacturer funded the study).
Some 170 adults with afib who hadn't improved with at least one antiarrhythmic drug were randomized either to undergo catheter ablation or to start a different drug. At 9 months, significantly more patients in the catheter group than drug group avoided treatment failure (66% vs. 16%). Major treatment-related adverse events occurred in 5% of the catheter group and 9% of the drug group.
The authors conclude that their results "argue for early use of catheter ablation therapy in patients with paroxysmal [atrial fibrillation] unresponsive to initial attempts with pharmacologic control."
LINK(S):
JAMA article (Free)
Published in Physician's First Watch January 27, 2010
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