Efficacy & Safety of Dronedarone Versus Amiodarone for the Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with documented atrial fibrillation for more than 72 hours for whomcardioversion and antiarrhythmic treatment is indicated in the opinion of theinvestigator and under oral anticoagulation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication to oral anticoagulation

• Patient having received amiodarone in the past whatever the date (more than a total oftwenty 200 mg tablets or more than 5 days intravenous)

• Patients known to have chronic AF, patients with atrial flutter or paroxysmal atrialfibrillation

• Severe congestive heart failure with New-York Heart Association (NYHA) class III orIV, severe bradycardia, high degree atrio-ventricular block, ongoing potentiallydangerous symptoms when in AF such as angina pectoris, transient ischemic attacks,stroke, syncope, as judged by the investigator, first degree family history of suddencardiac death below age 50 years in the absence of coronary heart disease, significantsinus node disease without a permanent pacemaker implanted

• History of torsades de pointes or long QT syndrome or QT- or QTc-interval ≥500 msecsbefore randomization

• Treatment with other class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs which cannot be discontinued

• Dysthyroidism or other contraindication to amiodarone The above information are not intended to contain all the considerations relevant to apatient's potential participation in a clinical trial.