[Treatment of hyperthyroid atrial fibrillation associated with Graves disease by prednisone]

To investigate the clinical effect of prednisone on hyper thyroid atrial fibrillation associated with Graves disease (HAFGD).

Twenty-four patients with hyperthyroid atrial fibrillation associated with Graves disease were divided into two groups: traditional antithyroid group (10 cases, with 2 males and 8 females, treated by methimazole 15 approximately 30 mg/d and propranolol 15 approximately 30 mg/d) and prednisone group (14 cases with 3 males and 11 females, treated by methimazole 15 approximately 30 mg/d, propranolol 15 approximately 30 mg/d, and prednisone 30 mg/d). The effects of these two remedies on reversion from atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm were compared.

The cardiac rhythm reverted to sinus rhythm in 12 out of the 14 cases in prednisone group with a reversion rate of 86% and the mean reversion time of 3.8 months (range 3.8 +/- 2.6 months), and in 4 out of the 10 cases in traditional antithyroid remedy group with the mean reversion rate of 40% and mean reversion time of 2.8 months (range 2.8 +/- 1.0 months). The reversion rate was significantly higher in prednisone group than in the traditional remedy group (P < 0.05).

Treatment of prednisone is more beneficial to reversion of atrial fibrillation into sinus rhythm among patients with HARGD.