title: Rate issues in atrial fibrillation: consequences of tachycardia and therapy for rate control.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia resulting in loss of atrial contribution to ventricular filling, an irregular ventricular contraction, and an inappropriately rapid ventricular rate. An uncontrolled ventricular response may result in various changes of ventricular function and structure referred to as tachycardia-related cardiomyopathy. However, the effects of tachycardia may be reversible with adequate pharmacologic or nonpharmacologic interventional rate control. The purpose of this review article is to discuss the present knowledge regarding tachycardia-related cardiomyopathy and therapy for rate control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology-Medicine, University of Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lüderitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents