Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of low-dose amiodarone (AD) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the aged patients with no-valvular heart diseases.
Method: 40 inpatients were treated with load-dose AD (600 mg.d-1) for 6 days and then low maintenance dose of 50 mg or 100 mg daily. Clinical efficacy was evaluated with 24 h dynamic electrocardiogram.
Results: AD maintained efficaciously sinus rhythm about 90.0% (36/40) during 6 months, about 83.3% (25/30) during 12 months, about 72.7% (16/22) during 24 months. Only 2 patients were stopped oral AD because sinus bradycardia(< or = 45 bpm) occurred.
Conclusion: Low dose AD (50-100 mg.d-1) is a safe and efficient maintenance of sinus rhythm in aged patients with no-valvular heart diseases and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.