Effects of verapamil and ibutilide on atrial fibrillation and postfibrillation atrial refractoriness

Christian Sticherling, William Hsu, Hiroshi Tada, Anton C. Bares, Hakan Oral, Frank Pelosi, Bradley P. Knight, S. Adam Strickberger, Fred Morady*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardioversion may be related to shortening of the atrial effective refractory period (ERP). This study compared the effects of verapamil and ibutilide on AF cycle length (AFCL), atrial ERP, and susceptibility to recurrent AF. Methods and Results: In 33 adults, the atrial ERP was measured at basic drive CLs of 350 and 500 msec before and after a brief episode of pacing-induced AF. During AF, verapamil, ibutilide, or saline was infused in 11 patients each. Shortening of the post-AF atrial ERP was attenuated by verapamil and prevented by ibutilide. AFCL shortened by 32 ± 21 msec in the verapamil group (P < 0.01), prolonged by 44 ± 14 msec in the ibutilide group (P < 0.001), and did not change in the control group. AF converted to sinus rhythm within 10 minutes less often after verapamil (0%) than after ibutilide (82%) or than in the control group (73 %). Post-AF, AF lasting > 10 minutes was induced more often in the verapamil group than in the ibutilide group (26% vs 0%; P = 0.01). Another 10 patients received verapamil or ibutilide in the absence of AF. Atrial ERP was unchanged after verapamil and prolonged after ibutilide. Conclusion: Verapamil shortens AFCL and impedes the conversion of induced AF, whereas ibutilide prolongs AFCL and does not impede the early conversion of induced AF. Ibutilide is more effective than verapamil in preventing post-AF shortening of the atrial ERP and reducing the susceptibility toward reinduction of AF.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)151-157
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Atrial refractoriness
  • Ibutilide
  • Verapamil

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of verapamil and ibutilide on atrial fibrillation and postfibrillation atrial refractoriness'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this