Skip to main content
Log in

Medikamentöse Kardioversion von Vorhofflimmern

Pharmacological cardioversion of atrial fibrillation

  • ÜBERSICHT
  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Kardiologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Atrial fibrillation is a very common rhythm disorder that can be therapeutically reverted into sinus rhythm by means of pharmacological or electrical cardioversion. This article reviews options for drug therapy and tries to elucidate the mechanisms of AF termination by antiarrhythmics. We will explain the clinical basis of different therapeutic approaches and review the efficacy of selected substances according to recent clinical studies. Finally, we will focus on some important aspects of anticoagulation in the setting of pharmacological cardioversion.

Zusammenfassung

Vorhofflimmern ist die im klinischen Alltag am häufigsten angetroffene Rhythmusstörung und kann mittels medikamentöser oder elektrischer Kardioversion in Sinusrhythmus konvertiert werden. Diese Übersichtsarbeit stellt die medikamentösen Therapieoptionen dar und erläutert, wie Antiarrhythmika Vorhofflimmern terminieren. Die klinischen Grundlagen der Differentialtherapie mit Klasse I und Klasse III Antiarrhythmika werden erläutert und die Effizienz einiger ausgewählter Substanzen anhand der derzeitigen Datenlage klinischer Studien beschrieben. Abschließend werden einige Aspekte zur Antikoagulation im Rahmen der medikamentösen Kardioversion erläutert.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abi-Mansour P, Carberry PA, McCowan RJ, Henthorn RW, Dunn GH, Perry KT (1998) Conversion efficacy and safety of repeated doses of ibutilide in patients with atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. Study Investigators. American Heart Journal 136:632–642

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Allessie MA, Bonke FI, Schopman FJ (1977) Circus movement in rabbit atrial muscle as a mechanism of tachycardia. III. The “leading circle” concept: a new model of circus movement in cardiac tissue without the involvement of an anatomical obstacle. Circ Res 41:9–18

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Alp NJ, Bell JA, Shahi M (2000) Randomised double blind trial of oral versus intravenous flecainide for the cardioversion of acute atrial fibrillation. Heart 84:37–40

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bianconi L, Mennuni M, Lukic V, Castro A, Chieffi M, Santini M (1996) Effects of oral propafenone administration before electrical cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation: a placebo-controlled study. J Am Coll Cardiol 28:700–706

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Biffi M, Boriani G, Bronzetti G, Capucci A, Branzi A, Magnani B (1999) Electrophysiological effects of flecainide and propafenone on atrial fibrillation cycle and relation with arrhythmia termination. Heart 82:176–182

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Boriani G, Biffi M, Capucci A, Botto GL, Broffoni T, Rubino I, Della Casa S, Sanguinetti M, Magnani B (1997) Oral propafenone to convert recent-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with and without underlying heart disease. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 126:621–625

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bosch RF, Scherer CR, Rub N, Wohrl S, Steinmeyer K, Haase H, Busch AE, Seipel L, Kuhlkamp V (2003) Molecular mechanisms of early electrical remodeling: transcriptional downregulation of ion channel subunits reduces I(Ca,L) and I(to) in rapid atrial pacing in rabbits. J Am Coll Cardiol 541:858–869

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Botto GL, Bonini W, Broffoni T, Molteni S, Lombardi R, Alfieri G, Barone P, Bernasconi G, Ferrari G (1996) Conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation with single loading oral dose of propafenone: is in-hospital admission absolutely necessary? Pacing. Clin Electrophysiol 19:1939–1943

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Capucci A, Boriani G, Botto GL, Lenzi T, Rubino I, Falcone C, Trisolino G, Della Casa S, Binetti N, Cavazza M (1994) Conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation by a single oral loading dose of propafenone or flecainide. Am J Cardiol 74:503–505

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen SA, Hsieh MH, Tai CT, Tsai CF, Prakash VS, Yu WC, Hsu TL, Ding YA, Chang MS (1999) Initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating from the pulmonary veins: electrophysiological characteristics, pharmacological responses, and effects of radiofrequency ablation. Circulation 100:1879–1886

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Chen YJ, Chen SA, Chang MS, Lin CI (2000) Arrhythmogenic activity of cardiac muscle in pulmonary veins of the dog: implication for the genesis of atrial fibrillation. Cardiovasc Res 48:265–273

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chevalier P, Durand-Dubief A, Burri H, Cucherat M, Kirkorian G, Touboul P (2003) Amiodarone versus placebo and classic drugs for cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol 41:255–262

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chou, Chung Chuan, Zhou, Shengmei, Miyauchi, Yasushi, Pak, Hui Nam, Okuyama, Yuji, Fishbein, Michael C, Karagueuzian, Hrayr S, Chen, Peng Sheng (2004) Effects of procainamide on electrical activity in thoracic veins and atria in canine model of sustained atrial fibrillation. AJP—Heart and Circulatory Physiology 286:H1936–H1945

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Coplen SE, Antman EM, Berlin JA, Hewitt P, Chalmers TC (1990) Efficacy and safety of quinidine therapy for maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion. A meta-analysis of randomized trials. Circulation 82:1106–1116

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Echt DS, Liebson PR, Mitchell LB, Peters RW, Obias-Manno D, Barker AH, Arensberg D, Baker A, Friedman L, Greene HL, Huther ML, Richardson DW, and and the CAST investigators (1991) Mortality and morbidity in patients receiving encainide, felcainide, or placebo. The cardiac arrhythmia suppression trial. N Engl J Med 324:781–788

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ellenbogen KA, Stambler BS, Wood MA, Sager PT, Wesley RC Jr, Meissner MC, Zoble RG, Wakefield LK, Perry KT, VanderLugt JT (1996) Efficacy of intravenous ibutilide for rapid termination of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter: a dose-response study. J Am Coll Cardiol 28:130–136

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Falk RH, Knowlton AA, Bernard SA, Gotlieb NE, Bettinelli NJ (1987) Digoxin for converting recent onset atrial fibrillation: result of a randomized controlled study. Ann Int Med 106:503–506

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Falk RH, Pollak A, Singh SN, Friedrich T, and for the intravenous dofetilide investigators (1997) Intravenous dofetilide, a class III antiarrhythmic agent, for the termination of sustained atrial fibrillation or flutter. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 29:385–390

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Feinberg W, Blackshear JL, Laupacis A, Kronmal RA, Hart J (1995) Prevalence, age distribution, and gender of patients with atrial fibrillation: analysis and implications. Arch Intern Med 155:469–473

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Fenster PE, Comess KA, Marsh R, Katzenberg C, Hager WD (1983) Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm by acute intravenous procainamide infusion. American Heart Journal 106:501–504

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Fresco C, Prockmer A, and for the PAFIT 2 Investigators (1996) Management of recent onset atrial fibrillation. Eur Heart J 17:41–47

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Fuster V, Ryden LE, Asinger et al (2001) ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: executive summary. A report of the American college of cardiology/American heart association task force on practice guidelines and the European society of cardiology committee for practice guidelines and policy conferences (committee to develop guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation): developed in collaboration with the north American society of pacing and electrophysiology. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 38:1231–1266

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Haissaguerre M, Jais P, Shah DC, Takahashi A, Hocini M, Quiniou G, Garrigue S, Le Mouroux A, Le Metayer P, Clementy J (1998) Spontaneous initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating from the pulmonary veins. N Engl J Med 339:659–666

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hart RG, Benavente O, McBride R, Pearce LA (1999) Antithrombotic therapy to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 131:492–501

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Hohnloser SH, Klingenheben T, Singh BN (1994) Amiodarone-associated proarrhythmic effects. A review with special reference to torsade de pointes tachycardia. Ann Int Med 121:529–535

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Hohnloser SH, Singh BN (1995) Proarrhythmia with class III antiarrhythmic drugs: definition, electrophysiologic mechanisms, incidence, predisposing factors, and clinical implications. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 6:920–936

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hohnloser SH, van de Loo A, Baedeker F (1995) Efficacy and proarrhythmic hazards of pharmacologic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: prospective comparison of sotalol versus quinidine. J Am Coll Cardiol 26:852–858

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Hohnloser SH, Woosley RL (1994) Sotalol. N Engl J Med 331:31–38

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Jalife J, Berenfeld O, Mansour M (2002) Mother rotors and fibrillatory conduction: a mechanism of atrial fibrillation. Cardiovasc Res 54:204–216

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kawase A, Ikeda T, Nakazawa K, Ashihara T, Namba T, Kubota T, Sugi K, Hirai H (2003) Widening of the excitable gap and enlargement of the core of reentry during atrial fibrillation with a pure sodium channel blocker in canine atria. Circulation 107:905–910

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Khan IA (2001) Single oral loading dose of propafenone for pharmacological cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol 37:542–547

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Klein AL, Grimm RA, Murray RD, Apperson-Hansen C, Asinger RW, Black IW, Davidoff R, Erbel R, Halperin JL, Orsinelli DA, Porter TR, Stoddard MF (2001) Use of transesophageal echocardiography to guide cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 344:1411–1420

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kneller J, Leon J, Nattel S (2001) How do class 1 antiarrhythmic drugs terminate atrial fibrillation?—A quantitative analysis based on a realistic ionic model. Circulation 104:5

    Google Scholar 

  34. Kodama I, Kamiya K, Toyama J (1997) Cellular electropharmacology of amiodarone. Cardiovasc Res 35:13–29

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Li D, Benardeau A, Nattel S (2000) Contrasting efficacy of dofetilide in differing experimental models of atrial fibrillation. Circulation 102:104–112

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Li D, Melnyk P, Feng J, Wang Z, Petrecca K, Shrier A, Nattel S (2000) Effects of experimental heart failure on atrial cellular and ionic electrophysiology. Circulation 101:2631–2638

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Manning WJ, Silverman DI, Katz SE, Riley MF, Come PC, Doherty RM, Munson JT, Douglas PS (1994) Impaired left atrial mechanical function after cardioversion: relation to the duration of atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol 23:1535–1540

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Murdock CJ, Kyles AE, Yeung-Lai-Wah JA, Qi A, Vorderbrugge S, Kerr CR (1990) Atrial flutter in patients treated for atrial fibrillation with propafenone. Am J Cardiol 66:755–757

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Murgatroyd FD, Gibson SM, Baiyan X, O’Nunain S, Poloniecki JD, Ward DE, Malik M, Camm AJ (1999) Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of digoxin in symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Circulation 99:2765–2770

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Murray KT (1998) Ibutilide. Circulation 97:493–497

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Nattel S (2002) New ideas about atrial fibrillation 50 years on. Nature 15:219–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Nattel S, Hadjis T, Talajic M (1994) The treatment of atrial fibrillation. An evaluation of drug therapy, electrical modalities and therapeutic considerations. Drugs 48:345–371

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Nattel S, Singh BN (1999) Evolution, mechanisms, and classification of antiarrhythmic drugs: focus on class III action. American Journal of Cardiology 84:11R–19R

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Norgaard BL, Watchell K, Christensen PD, Madsen B, Johansen JB, Christiansen EH, Graff O, Simonsen EH, and and the danish dofetilide in atrial fibrillation and flutter study group (1999) Efficacy and safety of intravenously administered dofetilide in acute termination of atrial fibrillation and flutter: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. American Heart Journal 137:1062–1069

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Oral H, Souza JJ, Michaud GF, Knight BP, Goyal R, Strickberger SA, Morady F (1999) Facilitating transthoracic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation with ibutilide pretreatment. N Engl J Med 340:1849–1854

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Pappone C, Oreto G, Rosanio S, Vicedomini G, Tocchi M, Gugliotta F, Salvati A, Dicandia C, Calabro MP, Mazzone P, Ficarra E, Di Gioia C, Gulletta S, Nardi S, Santinelli V, Benussi S, Alfieri O (2001) Atrial electroanatomic remodeling after circumferential radiofrequency pulmonary vein ablation: efficacy of an anatomic approach in a large cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation. Circulation 104:2539–2544

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Reisinger J, Gatterer E, Heinze G, Wiesinger K, Zeindlhofer E, Gattermeier M, Poelzl G, Kratzer H, Ebner A, Hohenwallner W, Lenz K, Slany J, Kuhn P (1998) Prospective comparison of flecainide versus sotalol for immediate cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. American Journal of Cardiology 81:1450–145

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Roy D, Talajic M, Dorian P, Connolly SJ, Eisenberg MJ, Green M, Kus T, Lambert J, Dubuc M, Gagne P, Nattel S, Thibault B, and for the canadian trial of atrial fibrillation investigators (2000) Amiodarone to prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 342:913–920

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Singh SN, Fletcher RD, Fisher SG, Singh BN, Lewis HD, Deedwania PC, Massie BM, Colling C, Lazzeri D (1995) Amiodarone in patients with congestive heart failure and asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmia. Survival trial of antiarrhythmic therapy in congestive heart failure. N Engl J Med 333:77–82

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Sopher SM, Camm AJ (1996) Atrial fibrillation: maintenance of sinus rhythm versus rate control. American Journal of Cardiology 77:24A–37A

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Stambler BS, Wood MA, Ellenbogen KA, Perry KT, Wakefield LK, Vander-Lugt JT (1996) Efficacy and safety of repeated intravenous doses of ibutilide for rapid conversion of atrial flutter or fibrillation. Circulation 94:1613–1621

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Stroobandt R, Stiels B, Hoebrechts R (1997) Propafenone for conversion and prophylaxis of atrial fibrillation. Propafenone atrial fibrillation trial investigators. Am J Cardiol 79:418–423

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Suttorp MJ, Kingma JH, Lie A, Huen, Mast EG (1989) Intravenous flecainide versus verapamil for acute conversion of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or flutter to sinus rhythm. Am J Cardiol 63:693–696

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. The Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) Investigators (2002) A comparison of rate control and rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation. The New England Journal of Medicine 347:1825–1833

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Volgman AS, Carberry PA, Stambler B, Lewis WR, Dunn GH, Perry KT, VanderLugt JT, Kowey PR (1998) Conversion efficacy and safety of intravenous ibutilide compared with intravenous procainamide in patients with atrial flutter or fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol 31:1414–1419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Vos MA, Golitsyn SR, Stangl K, Ruda MY, Van Wijk LV, Harry JD, Perry KT, Touboul P, Steinbeck G, Wellens HJ (1998) Superiority of ibutilide (a new class III agent) over DL-sotalol in converting atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. The Ibutilide/Sotalol Comparator Study Group. Heart 79:568–575

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Wang J, Bourne GW, Wang Z, Villemaire C, Talajic M, Nattel S (1993) Comparative mechanisms of antiarrhythmic drug action in experimental atrial fibrillation. Importance of usedependent effects on refractoriness. Circulation 88:1030–1044

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Wijffels MC, Dorland R, Mast F, Allessie MA (2000) Widening of the excitable gap during pharmacological cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in the goat: effects of cibenzoline, hydroquinidine, flecainide, and d-sotalol. Circulation 102:260–267

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Yue L, Feng J, Gaspo R, Li GR, Wang Z, Nattel S (1997) Ionic remodeling underlying action potential changes in a canine model of atrial fibrillation. Circ Res 81:512–525

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Yue L, Melnyk P, Gaspo R, Wang Z, Nattel S (1999) Molecular mechanisms underlying ionic remodeling in a dog model of atrial fibrillation. Circ Res 84:776–784

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. H. Hohnloser.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ehrlich, J.R., Hohnloser, S.H. Medikamentöse Kardioversion von Vorhofflimmern. ZS Kardiologie 94, 14–22 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-005-0166-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-005-0166-9

Key words

Schlüsselwörter

Navigation