[Propafenon and lidoflazine in chronic atrial fibrillation and flutter (author's transl)]

60 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and flutter were randomly allotted to two groups and treated alternately with two different therapy regimes. 30 patients (group I) received lidoflazine in increasing dosage up to 480 mg/24 h and in cases where there was no conversion to sinus rhythm propafenon in a maximal daily dosage of 1800 mg orally. The duration of treatment was limited to 4 days for each substance. 30 patients (group II) were treated in the reverse order, i.e. propafenon and in cases of ineffectiveness with lidoflazine. Atrial fibrillation could be overcome in 21 patients in group I and in 23 patients in group II. The combined success rate in both groups was 73%. The conversion rates for the individual substances were 41% for propafenon (17 out of 41 patients) and 59% for lidoflazine (27 out of 46 patients). The difference was not statistically significant. Successive use of both substances leads to an increased conversion rate. Dangers arising from therapy are a conduction inhibitory action and depression of sinus node function as far as propafenol is concerned and the risk of ventricular ectopy and tachyarrhythmia in lidoflazine.