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To the Editor: There are several items that could clarify the outcomes and conclusions of the study of amiodarone in patients with atrial fibrillation by Dr Ahmed and colleagues.¹ It would be helpful to understand whether the patients in the study were receiving or had received alternative antiarrhythmic drugs during the initial screening and, if they had received other agents, whether those agents were discontinued before starting amiodarone. It is not clear if patients with coronary artery bypass grafting or patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation were included in the study. Further explanation would be useful regarding how patients who experienced a recurrence of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation were detected other than during the visits.

In addition, it would be valuable to know if there was any difference in the incidence of recurrence in patients using angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers who were concomitantly being treated with amiodarone. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Madhavi Bollu, MD; Ravi K. Bobba, MD
ravi.bobba@va.gov
Department of Medicine
Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Salem, Virginia

Edward L. Arsura, MD
Department of Internal Medicine
Richmond University Medical Center
Staten Island, New York

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