According to information from a new study, atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who respond to chemical cardioversion with dofetilide might be significantly more vulnerable to proarrhythmias. This study was recently reported online May 24th in The American Journal of Cardiology.
The researchers of the study have stated that doctors should pay closer attention those particular AF patients because they represent nearly half of the patients who are treated for persistent AF.
“In our study, patients with persistent atrial fibrillation who converted to sinus rhythm after the first or second dose of dofetilide were more likely to experience proarrhythmia or require either dose adjustment or drug discontinuation,” Dr. Sandeep Jain, who led the study at the Heart and Vascular Institute of the University of Pittsburgh, told Reuters Health by email. “These patients should be followed closely for toxicity.”
For the study, researchers analyzed data collected from 99 patients with persistent AF, atrial flutter or both. What they found was that 46 percent of the patients had a successful cardioversion once given about 2.2 doses of dofetilide. The rest of the patients needed a cardioversion after being given 4.7 doses. Those patients who had been chemically converted only needed one dose of the dofetillide. The cases of safety and efficacy were the same for all of the patients in both groups.
Cardioversion is a common treatment for patients with AF. Prescription anticoagulants are also used to treat the condition. One of those drugs is Multaq. Multaq is made by Sanofi-Aventis and has been linked to serious side effects including a worsening of the heart condition, liver failure and lung toxicity. It is for this reason that the FDA has recommended that doctors only prescribe Multaq if all other medications fail to work.
If you or a loved one has suffered from liver failure or a worsening heart condition after being treated with Multaq, contact the attorneys at Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.