Hello, I'm still on the sideline. Does anyone have any feedback on the statements below? thanks!
1 - ACT 1 and ACT 3 included a limited number of patients who concurrently took vernakalant and digoxin (combined, n=30) or who received concomitant class I antiarrhythmics (combined, n=25), sotalol (a class III antiarrhythmic agent that is approved by FDA for use in maintaining a normal sinus rhythm) (combined, n=28), or other class III antiarrhythmics (combined, n=16).12 Coadministration of digoxin, class I antiarrhythmics, or class III antiarrhythmics was associated with conversion rates of 20%, 20%, and 38%, respectively (P value not significant vs no concomitant drug). Of note, concomitant use of sotalol was associated with a somewhat higher conversion rate (64%) versus no sotalol (P value not significant). Further studies with a larger number of patients receiving vernakalant and concomitant antiarrhythmic agents or digoxin are warranted to determine the effect of concomitant drug use on conversion rates to normal sinus rhythm.
2 - The dosing regimen that will be recommended has not yet been established.
3 - The potential dosing regimen of IV vernakalant for the acute conversion of AF after cardiac surgery is unknown, as the data have not yet been published.
4 - Among the patients who received vernakalant, 23% were taking rhythm-control medication (10%, class I antiarrhythmics; 7%, class III antiarrhythmics; and 8%, Betapace [sotalol]) and 67% were taking rate-control medication (52% beta blockers, 18%, calcium channel blockers, and 10%, digoxin). Why the uneven percentage of patients taking rhythm-control vs rate-control medication? |
