title: [Pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation].
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is not a single entity. Many factors play a role in its genesis, its maintenance and termination. The presence of underlying cardiac disease and left ventricular dysfunction is a major factor due to the electrophysiological and haemodynamic consequences, the effect on autonomic nervous system and on the effect of antiarrhythmic drugs themselves. It is therefore essential to take this into account before deciding on a therapeutic approach. This also emphasises the difficulty of interpreting clinical trials comparing pharmacological treatments when the study population is poorly defined. In general, one molecule is not more or less effective than another, it is more or less adapted to the patient under treatment.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie, hôpital Lariboisière, Paris.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leenhardt
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coumel
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005424:Flecainide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D005424:Flecainide; D000638:Amiodarone
vernacular_title: Traitement pharmacologique de la fibrillation auriculaire.