The purpose of this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, superiority clinical trial was to assess clinical efficacy of potassium canrenoate - canrenone in rapid conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm.
Canrenone is a specific antagonist of aldosterone. It is a competitive inhibitor of aldosterone receptors and inhibits the effects of aldosterone. Spironolactone is a prodrug which is active after its conversion into canrenone. By inhibiting the effects of aldosterone it increases aqueous and sodium diuresis and is classified as a diuretic. It decreases urinary elimination of potassium and increases urinary excretion of calcium. Canrenone is used for the treatment of primary or secondary hyperaldosteronism, edema and ascites of congestive heart failure and cirrhosis, and in the treatment of the arterial hypertension. Current evidence supports renin-angiotensin-alodsterone (RAAS) inhibition: angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) or, potentially, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) as an upstream therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) management. It has been demonstrated that plasma aldosterone concentration may be increased in patients with AF episode, and it lowers after cardioversion. Only canrenone (potassium canrenoate) may be administered intravenously. Canrenone increases plasma level of potassium, lowers blood pressure and reduces preload at the same time. To show superiority of canrenone over placebo a sample size of 80 patients was calculated based on following assumptions: two-tailed test, a type I error of 0.01, a power of 90%, efficacy of placebo 5%, efficacy of canrenone 50% and 20% drop-out rate to fulfill the criteria of intention-to-treat analysis. Due to presumed lack of statistical power the secondary end points and safety endpoints will be considered exploratory.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
80
Patients assigned to control group will be administered saline 0.9% in bolus of 10 cm3 within 2-3 minutes. BP will be measured before injection.
Patients assigned to canrenone group will be administered canrenone in bolus of 200 mg diluted to 10 cm3 within 2-3 minutes in one dose. Drug administration will be stopped in case of serious adverse event. Further treatment of the patient will depend on clinical condition and will follow appropriate clinical guidelines.
Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm.
Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm confirmed in standard 12-lead ECG during observation period after first iv bolus.
Time frame: Time Frame: 2 hours.
Time to conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm.
Time to conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in minutes since injection.
Time frame: Time Frame: 2 hours.
Atrial fibrillation recurrence within observation period.
Atrial fibrillation recurrence within observation period.
Time frame: Time Frame: 2 hours.
Serious adverse reactions.
Serious adverse reactions, which refer to every event requiring admission to a hospital or extended observation.
Time frame: Time Frame: 24 hours.
Safety outcome (exploratory analysis).
hypotension \< 90 mm Hg, cardiac conduction abnormalities, new arrhythmia occurrence, other
Time frame: Time Frame: 24 hours.
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