Management of atrial fibrillation in the post-thyrotoxic state.
This study was designed to investigate the appropriate timing for cardioversion in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation who had been rendered euthyroid from a thyrotoxic state. We carried out a retrospective study of 163 patients with thyrotoxic atrial fibrillation, with a mean follow-up of 34 months. With control of thyroid function alone, 101 patients had spontaneous reversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm and 62 patients had persistent atrial fibrillation. In those with spontaneous reversion, the longest duration of atrial fibrillation prior to the euthyroid state was 13 months. In those with persistent fibrillation, the shortest duration of atrial fibrillation prior to the euthyroid state was eight months. Almost three-quarters of those with spontaneous reversion had conversion to sinus rhythm within three weeks of becoming euthyroid. No spontaneous reversion occurred if atrial fibrillation was still present after the patients had been in a euthyroid state for four months. This study suggests that spontaneous reversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm is highly unlikely if the duration of atrial fibrillation before the euthyroid state is achieved exceeds 13 months, or if it is still present after the patient has been in a euthyroid state for four months, Cardioversion should be performed at about the 16th week after the euthyroid state is achieved.