Effect of diltiazem on the recurrence rate of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Prior experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that verapamil ma y attenuate the atrial electrical remodeling that is induced by atrial fibr illation (AF),(1,2) thereby reducing the predisposition toward early recurr ence of AF after cardioversion. This may explain why some clinical studies have found that treatment with calcium antagonist agents before cardioversi on may reduce the incidence of immediate or early recurrences of AF.(3-6) H owever, whether calcium antagonists help to delay recurrences of AF in pati ents with paroxysmal AF is unclear. Therefore, this prospective study evalu ated the effect of oral diltiazem on the frequency of AF in patients with p aroxysmal AF who underwent atrioventricular junction ablation and implantat ion of a dual-chamber pacemaker.