title: Dronedarone: an amiodarone analogue.
abstract: Of the antiarrhythmic drugs in current use, amiodarone is one of the most effective and is associated with a comparatively low risk of drug-induced pro-arrhythmia, probably due to its multiple pharmacological actions on cardiac ion channels and receptors. However, amiodarone is associated with significant extra-cardiac side effects and this has driven development of amiodarone analogues. These analogues include short acting analogues (e.g., AT-2001) with similar acute effects to amiodarone, the thyroid receptor antagonist KB-130015 and dronedarone. Dronedarone, (SR-33589; Sanofi-Synthelabo), is a non-iodinated amiodarone derivative that inhibits Na +, K + and Ca 2+ currents. It is a potent inhibitor of the acetylcholine-activated K + current from atrial and sinoatrial nodal tissue, and inhibits the rapid delayed rectifier more potently than slow and inward rectifier K + currents and inhibits L-type calcium current. Dronedarone is an antagonist at alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors and unlike amiodarone, has little effect at thyroid receptors. Dronedarone is more potent than amiodarone in inhibiting arrhythmias and death in animal models of ischaemia- and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. In the Dronedarone Atrial Fibrillation Study After Electrical Cardioversion (DAFNE) clinical trial, dronedarone 800 mg/day appeared to be effective and safe for the prevention of atrial fibrillation relapses after cardioversion. The Antiarrhythmic Trial with Dronedarone in Moderate-to-Severe Congestive Heart Failure Evaluating Morbidity Decrease (ANDROMEDA) trial was stopped due to a potential increased risk of death in the dronedarone group. Trials of dronedarone in the maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation and a safety and tolerability study in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator are ongoing. Further experimental and clinical studies are required before we have a definitive answer to whether dronedarone has advantages over amiodarone and other amiodarone analogues.
authors.affiliation: Doggrell Biomedical Communications, Auckland, New Zealand. s_doggrell@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sheila A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Doggrell
authors.forename: Jules C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hancox
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000077764:Dronedarone; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000077764:Dronedarone; D000638:Amiodarone