[Prevention of atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients].
A large percentage of patients with hypertension suffer from atrial fibrillation (AF). The presence of hypertension increases the risk of AF, which in turn aggravates hypertension. The ability of drugs to interfere with specific signal transduction pathways easing the presence of AF in hypertensive patients is promising. To date, the most effective mechanism appears to be the inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs). This approach is under active investigation. Several trials have assessed the effectiveness of these drugs in the prevention of AF. Data show that both, ACEIs and ARBs, appear effective to prevent AF. However, a lack of prospective randomized double-blind trials data limits their application in absence of any other indication.
Barrios Alonso
Vivencio
V
Instituto de Cardiología, Hospital Ramón y Cajal. Madrid, España. vbarriosa@meditex.es
de la Figuera von Wichmann
Mariano
M
Coca Payeras
Antonio
A
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy