Perindopril for the prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation: One-year experience

Abstract

Background: Recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after ablation is still high. Perindopril plays an essential role in AF induction and maintenance.

Objective: We aimed to prove that perindopril (8 mg) could prevent recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation.

Methods: Patients with paroxysmal AF who received radiofrequency ablation were randomized to a 3-month course of perindopril 8 mg once daily (perindopril group) or placebo (placebo group). Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) therapy and standard transthoracic echocardiography were performed. All 256 patients with paroxysmal AF who received radiofrequency ablation were randomized. And we followed them for complete 1 year. The 3-month recurrence and the 1-year recurrence were compared between the 2 groups.

Results: The 3-month recurrence of AF was observed in 33 (26.19%) of 126 patients in the placebo group vs 19 (14.62%) of 130 patients who received perindopril 8 mg once daily (χ2, P = .021). One-year recurrence of AF was observed in 36 (28.5%) of 126 patients in the placebo group as compared with 21 (16.2%) of 130 patients who received perindopril after 1 year (P = .017). The κ value was 0.94 in the control group (P < .001) and 0.96 in the perindopril group (P < .001) between 3-month and 1-year recurrence. The Ang-II level was related to the left atrial distance with the reduction in AF recurrence (r = 0.17, P = .005 at 3 months; r = 0.25, P < .001 at 1 year).

Conclusion: Perindopril is an effective and safe treatment for the prevention of AF recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation. This effect seems to be strongly associated with a significant decrease in Ang-II level and left atrial distance.

Keywords: Ablation; Atrial fibrillation; Perindopril; Recurrence.