Cardiac Performance After Diltiazem in Digitalized Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Heart rate, blood pressure and exercise duration were evaluated by treadmill test in 15 patients having chronic atrial fibrillation and taking 0.25 mg digoxin per day, before and after diltiazem treatment at a daily dose of 180 mg for 10 days. Diltiazem significantly reduced heart rate during rest, submaximal and maximal exercise periods and 3 minutes after exercise (p<0.01). It did not affect blood pressure. Total exercise duration increased about 30% after diltiazem treatment. It was conluded that the addition of diltiazem (180 mg per day) to patients who have chronic atrial fibrillation and are taking digoxin, affected their cardiac performance positively.