title: Selection of drugs in pursuit of rate control strategy.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Based on multiple large randomized trials, rate control therapy has been shown to be safe and effective and is gaining greater acceptance as a frontline alternative to drugs to maintain sinus rhythm. Adequate rate control can be achieved by atrioventricular nodal blocking agents both in the acute and chronic settings. In refractory patients, other methods such as atrioventricular node ablation can be used to control rate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Pennsylvania State Cardiovascular Center, Penn State University College of Medicine, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Soraya M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Samii
authors.forename: B John
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hynes
authors.forename: Mazhar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wolbrette
authors.forename: Jerry C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Luck
authors.forename: Gerald V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Naccarelli
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents