title: [Angiotensin receptor blockers and cardiac rhythm disorders].
abstract: Angiotension Receptor Blockers (ARB) are able to prevent the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) through various mechanisms among them: neurhumoral antagonism and hemodynamic control. This occurs during arterial hypertension and chronic heart failure both diseases known to be associated with left atrial dysfunction. In the CHARM program, candesartan reduced by 20% the incidence of AF and thus also mortality and the incidence of hospitalisation for heart failure related to AF This beneficial effect is also observed with ACE inhibitors but is more important and potentated by ARB. In the Val-Heft study, valsartan on the top of standard treatment including ACE inhibitors, significantly lowered the cases of AF In hypertensive patients, ARB are more powerful than ACE inhibitors for the prevention of AF In the LIFE study, patients in the losartan arm had 33% less AF than patients from the other arm, despite treatment with atenolol and similar blood pressure reduction. Moreover ARB beside their specific effects are also able to increase efficiency of anti-arrhythmic agent; since after cardioversion patients treated with amiodarone plus irbesartan had a lower rate of recurrence of atrial fibrillation than patients treated with amiodarone alone. Finally ARB may reduce the risk of sudden death by ventricular arrhythmias in patients with diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Pôle cardiovasculaire et métabolique, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse. galinier.m@chu-toulouse.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galinier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roncalli
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents