title: Drug therapy for atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Although the maintenance of sinus rhythm would be the ideal scenario for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), recent randomised trials have questioned the value of this approach. A careful interpretation of their results showed the limited efficacy of currently available antiarrhythmic drugs in maintaining sinus rhythm, as well as their potentially serious side effects. Therefore, it is imperative to develop safer and more effective drugs for AF. Based on our improved understanding of the pathophysiology of AF and the mechanism of action of antiarrhythmic drugs, significant efforts are being made to develop new antiarrhythmic agents that would prevent electrophysiological remodelling, would be selective for the atria and, therefore, would not prolong ventricular repolarisation, thus lacking any proarrhythmic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Heraklion University Hospital, 71000, Voutes, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. cardio@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Panos E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Vardas
authors.forename: Eleftherios M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kallergis
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin