title: Management of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a well-documented relationship and a complex interaction between atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure. The coexistence of these 2 clinical entities renders their management even more challenging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We searched current literature to review the management of AF in patients with heart failure. The cornerstones of AF treatment are rate control, cardioversion, and maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR), and prevention of thromboembolism. The issue of rhythm versus rate control remains unresolved. Nonpharmacologic therapies such as radiofrequency catheter ablation of the atrioventricular node with permanent pacemaker implantation, curative catheter ablation of AF, and cardiac resynchronization therapy are emerging and may alter the management of these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of atrial fibrillation in the setting of heart failure encompasses a variety of approaches including drugs, devices, and ablation. Larger randomized trials are required to clarify the management of such patients.
authors.affiliation: Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens and the Athens University Hospital, Attikon, Athens Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Efremidis
authors.forename: Loukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sideris
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filippatos
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents