title: Management of atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is the cardiac arrhythmia encountered most often in clinical practice. It is triggered by many conditions such as thyroid dysfunction, cardiac disease, alcohol, and pulmonary disease. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are susceptible to many insults that can lead to an acute deterioration superimposed on chronic disease. Changes in blood gases, abnormalities in pulmonary functions, and hemodynamic changes resulting from pulmonary hypertension can lead to the development of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation and COPD frequently coexist and complicate treatment of both conditions. The treatment of COPD exacerbation may include beta-adrenergic agonist and theophylline, which can precipitate atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. Pharmacologic and electrical cardioversion may be ineffective in the management of atrial fibrillation in patients with COPD until respiratory decompensation has been corrected. This article focuses on the management of atrial fibrillation in patients with COPD.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiology Group, The Heart and Vascular Cardiology Group, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: House-Fancher
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004077:Digoxin