Role of carvedilol in atrial fibrillation: insights from clinical trials.
Atrial fibrillation affects approximately 2 million people in the United States and is a common comorbidity among patients with heart failure. Clinical studies indicate that the benefits of the beta-blocker carvedilol in patients with heart failure extend to patients with heart failure complicated by atrial fibrillation. The results of the Carvedilol in Atrial Fibrillation Evaluation (CAFE) trial provide support that carvedilol has incremental benefit when added to digoxin for the management of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure. Additional recent studies suggest that carvedilol may be useful in managing postsurgical atrial fibrillation and also may prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation among patients who undergo cardioversion.
Gheorghiade
Mihai
M
Division of Cardiology, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. m-gheorghiade@northwestern.edu
Lukas
Mary Ann
MA
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004077:Digoxin