Challenging the superiority of amiodarone for rate control in Wolff-Parkinson-White and atrial fibrillation.

Abstract

The objective of this review is to explore and challenge the superiority of amiodarone for rate control in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and concomitant atrial fibrillation (WPW-AF). The current recommendation for pharmacological treatment of this condition is amiodarone. A review of the past 25 years of literature finds several studies that identify a small risk of ventricular fibrillation secondary to amiodarone administration for rate control in WPW-AF. Additionally, the literature supports the safe and effective use of procainamide for rate control in WPW-AF. This review concludes that amiodarone is not superior to procainamide in rate control for WPW-AF, and may be dangerous.

• Authors: Sharis M Simonian, Shahram Lotfipour, Christopher Wall, Mark I Langdorf
• Journal: Internal and emergency medicine (Intern Emerg Med) Vol. 5 Issue 5 Pg. 421-6 (Oct 2010) ISSN: 1970-9366 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 20437113 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
• Procainamide
• Amiodarone

Topics

• Adult
• Amiodarone (therapeutic use)
• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents (therapeutic use)
• Atrial Fibrillation (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Electrocardiography
• Emergency Service, Hospital
• Humans
• Male
• Procainamide (therapeutic use)
• Tachycardia (drug therapy, etiology)
• Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (complications, drug therapy)