COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF INTRAVENOUS PROPAFENONE AND PROCAINAMIDE IN PATIENTS WITH PAROXYSMAL ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION - RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED BLIND-STUDY

Intravenous propafenone and procainamide were compared in a randomized placebo controlled blind study on 114 patients with spontaneous attac ks of atrial fibrillation of nonreumatic origin. Propafenone (2 mg/kg) terminated attacks of atrial fibrillation more often and quicker than 12 mg/kg of procainamide (in 1 hour - in 52,6 and 28,9%, in 3 hours - in 81,6 and 44,7%, in 8 hours - in 92,1 and 60,5% of cases, respectiv ely). When conversion to sinus rhythm could not be achieved propafenon e but not procainamide decreased ventricular rate and to a lesser degr ee lowered blood pressure.