[Medication reducing therapy of atrial fibrillation: a new approach to an old problem].

AIM: To study influence of different rate-reducing medicine groups on atrial electrical activity and ventricular thyrhms structure in chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) and thus to optimize treatment.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

57 patients with CAF treated with digitalis, beta-blockers, their combinations, verapamil, amiodaron and sotalol were studied. Repeatedly highly-resolution ECG analysis was made.

RESULTS

Atrial fibrillation is characterized by ff-waves basic period from 0.12 s to 0.20 s. Ventricular characteristics were determined both by AV conduction and basic ff-waves periods. The reducing of basic ff-period is the leading mechanism of digitalis rate-reducing actions in typical cases. The direct AV block appears on the late stage of therapy and is moderate.

CONCLUSION

Combined therapy by medicines with different mechanisms of rate-reducing actions is the most efficient. The choice of the drug and its doses is determined by basic ff-waves periods value and the ventricular rhythm structure.