Effect of Addition of Dronedarone to Standard Rate Control Therapy on Ventricular Rate During Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (AFRODITE)

Inclusion Criteria: * Persistent AF with HR \>80 bpm at rest despite treatment with ≤ 2 rate control agents (i.e. beta blocker and/or calcium antagonist - Patients using digoxin are eligible) * Documented AF in the past 24 hours * Treated with the following rate control medication: * beta blocker or * calcium antagonist or * beta blocker plus calcium antagonist or * beta blocker plus digoxin or * calcium antagonist plus digoxin * Anticoagulant treatment in line with local guidelines Exclusion Criteria: * Incapacitated patients * Paroxysmal or permanent AF * Use of class I or III anti-arrhythmic drugs in the past 12 weeks * Scheduled cardioversion or pulmonary vein ablation * Unstable New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and all class IV Heart Failure * AV block grade 2 or 3 * Known severe renal impairment (serum creatinine \> 180 μmol/l) * Known severe hepatic impairment (AST, ALT \> 3 x Upper Limit of Normal (ULN)) * Contra-indication for dronedarone * Participation in a clinical drug study in the 3 months prior to inclusion * Women of childbearing potential, who do not use adequate contraception * Lactating women The above information is not intended to contain all considerations relevant to a patient's potential participation in a clinical trial.