Clinical outcomes
The follow-up periods after CA in the short-term and long-term
continuation groups were 27 ± 15 months and 29 ± 15 months,
respectively, while the follow-up periods after bepridil discontinuation
in the same groups were 24 ± 14 months and 17 ± 15 months, respectively.
A Kaplan-Meier analysis of recurrent AF with the date of ablation
procedure (A) and the date of bepridil discontinuation (B) as the
starting points is shown in Figure 1. The frequency of recurrent AF was
similar between the 2 groups. In the long-term continuation group, 13
patients had recurrence, with 8 (62%) cases occurring within 4 months
after bepridil discontinuation (Figure 1B).