title: [Atrial fibrillation].
abstract: Atrial fibrillation represents the arrhythmia that most frequently leads to hospital admission. Due to the age structure of our population and the increasing morbidity and comorbidity, one has to assume that this arrhythmia will reach an even higher prevalence. The therapeutic successes are often insufficient. First of all, it is important to diagnose and treat the underlying disease. Secondly, antiarrhythmic therapy has to be considered in symptomatic patients. In those patients and in the case of a persistent form, electrical cardioversion should be performed. Repetitive cardioversions in asymptomatic patients yield no advantage for mortality. Antiarrhythmic therapy consists of drugs of the classes Ia, Ic, and III. Concomitant anticoagulation is necessary; ASS in indicated only in patients without structural heart disease and lacking thromboembolic risk factors. If risk factors are present, effective therapy with coumarin derivatives is required. Therapy with ACE inhibitors and AT blockers leads to an advantage in patients with arterial hypertension and/or heart failure concerning the stability of sinus rhythm after cardioversion and the incidence of arrhythmia. Newer medications for anticoagulation and newer antiarrhythmic drugs raise the hope of a future therapy with higher efficacy and lower rate of side effects.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kardiologie, Pneumologie und Angiologie, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik B, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany. hennersdorf@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hennersdorf
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Strauer
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants