Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of different treatment methods of atrial fibrillation in thyrotoxicosis patients

: Comparative data are presented on the treatment of auricular fibrillation in 105 patients with severe thyrotoxicosis. All the patients were divided into 3 groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment: the 1st group of 45 patients, given complex therapy (mercazolyl, diiodotyrosine, cardiac glycosides, potassium drugs, ATF, cocarboxylase); the 2nd group of 40 subjects, treated with inderal in a dose of 80 to 120 mg during 7 days, followed by complex therapy; the 3d group of patients given complex therapy and cordaron. The latter combined with complex therapy was the most effective method in the treatment of auricular fibrillation in patients who suffered from thyrotoxicosis. In 15 of 20 patients of the 3d group the sinus rhythm was recovered. The treatment effectiveness in this group of patients was not dependent on their age, thyrotoxicosis and arrhythmia duration and the degree of circulatory disturbance, whereas in patients of the 1st group good results, as a rule, were seen in young and middle-aged subjects with the disease duration, not exceeding one year and circulation disorder of the Ist and IInd stages. It is concluded that in pathogenesis of auricular fibrillation the main role belongs to the unfavourable effect of excessive thyroid hormones upon the metabolic processes in myocardial auricles.