OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of low dose sotalol on the signal averaged surface P wave in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. DESIGN: A longitudinal within patient crossover study. SETTING: Cardiac departments of a regional cardiothoracic centre and a district general hospital. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients with documented paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The median (range) age of the patients was 65.5 (36-70) years; 11 were men. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis of the signal averaged P wave recorded from patients not receiving antiarrhythmic medication and after 4-6 weeks' treatment with sotalol. P wave limits were defined automatically by a computer algorithm. Filtered P wave duration and energies contained in frequency bands from 20, 30, 40, 60, and 80 to 150 Hz of the P wave spectrum expressed as absolute values (P20, P30, etc) and as ratios of high to low frequency energy (PR20, PR30, etc) were measured. RESULTS: No difference in P wave duration was observed between the groups studied (mean (SEM) 149 (4) without medication and 152 (3) ms with sotalol). Significant decreases in high frequency P wave energy (for example P60: 4.3 (0.4) v 3.3 (0.3) microV2.s, P = 0.003) and energy ratio (PR60: 5.6 (0.5) v 4.7 (0.6), P = 0.03) were observed during sotalol treatment. These changes were independent of heart rate. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with low dose sotalol reduces high frequency P wave energy but does not change P wave duration. These results are consistent with the class III effect of the drug and suggest that signal averaging of the surface P wave may be a useful non-invasive measure of drug induced changes in atrial electrophysiology.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of low dose sotalol on the signal averaged surface P wave in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. DESIGN: A longitudinal within patient crossover study. SETTING: Cardiac departments of a regional cardiothoracic centre and a district general hospital. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients with documented paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The median (range) age of the patients was 65.5 (36-70) years; 11 were men. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis of the signal averaged P wave recorded from patients not receiving antiarrhythmic medication and after 4-6 weeks' treatment with sotalol. P wave limits were defined automatically by a computer algorithm. Filtered P wave duration and energies contained in frequency bands from 20, 30, 40, 60, and 80 to 150 Hz of the P wave spectrum expressed as absolute values (P20, P30, etc) and as ratios of high to low frequency energy (PR20, PR30, etc) were measured. RESULTS: No difference in P wave duration was observed between the groups studied (mean (SEM) 149 (4) without medication and 152 (3) ms with sotalol). Significant decreases in high frequency P wave energy (for example P60: 4.3 (0.4) v 3.3 (0.3) microV2.s, P = 0.003) and energy ratio (PR60: 5.6 (0.5) v 4.7 (0.6), P = 0.03) were observed during sotalol treatment. These changes were independent of heart rate. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with low dose sotalol reduces high frequency P wave energy but does not change P wave duration. These results are consistent with the class III effect of the drug and suggest that signal averaging of the surface P wave may be a useful non-invasive measure of drug induced changes in atrial electrophysiology.
Authors: T Wang; R H Bergstrand; K A Thompson; L A Siddoway; H J Duff; R L Woosley; D M Roden Journal: Am J Cardiol Date: 1986-05-01 Impact factor: 2.778
Authors: Damian P Redfearn; Allan C Skanes; Lorne J Gula; Michael J Griffith; Howard J Marshall; Peter J Stafford; Andrew D Krahn; Raymond Yee; George J Klein Journal: Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol Date: 2007-10 Impact factor: 1.468
Authors: Marco Budeus; Marcus Hennersdorf; Christian Perings; Heinrich Wieneke; Raimund Erbel; Stefan Sack Journal: Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 1.468
Authors: Marco Budeus; Marcus Hennersdorf; Stefan Dierkes; Michael Preik; Matthias P Heintzen; Malte Kelm; Christian Perings Journal: Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol Date: 2003-04 Impact factor: 1.468