The aim – to determine antiarrhythmic efficacy and safety of 1C class antiarrhythmic agents ethacizin and propafenone in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and frequent recurrences of atrial fibrillation (AF).
Material and methods. 146 patients (age 37–86 years, 68 (46.6 %) males) with AH II stage and frequent recurrences of AF were examined. Antiarrhythmic therapy was used in all patients. The patient self-assessed the frequency of AF attacks and their course. The observation period from the time of the selection of effective antiarrhythmic therapy was 6 months. The actual average observation period for patients was 8.2±0.4 months.
Results. In general, 134 (91.8 %) of the treated patients had a positive antiarrhythmic effect within 6 months of the treatment. Thus, in 48 (35.8 %) cases it was total and in 86 (64.2 %) – partial antiarrhythmic effect (Р<0.0001). Propafenone was effective in 72 (62.6 %) cases, ethacizin – in 46 (62.2 %) patients (in vagal AF – 90.3 %). An additional use of bisoprolol increased the efficacy of ethacizin to 76.2 %. The study drugs decreased the frequency of arrhythmias attacks, increasing the time between the registered symptomatic episodes of AF by 5.7 times – from 12 to 80 days (Р<0.0001). In addition, the median duration of symptomatic episodes was significantly decreased by 5.0 times – from 12 to 2 hours (Р<0.0001). Conclusions. The study proved antiarrhythmic efficacy and safety of ethacizin and propafenone in patients with arterial hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
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