title: Pharmacological therapy of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Present pharmacological options are limited by inefficacy, proarrhythmia and end-organ toxicity. Enhanced understanding of the underlying causes of this pleotropic entity may allow the creation of targeted drugs that avoid the pitfalls of current options. This review concentrates on both the classical and novel pharmacological therapies aimed at maintaining sinus rhythm.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington Medical Center, Division of Cardiology, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 356422, Seattle, WA 98122, USA. krpatton@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Kristen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents