title: Pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation: insights into the renin-angiotensin system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation is, to date, a major problem of public health with an important cost in the health care system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The therapeutic strategies for atrial fibrillation are complex and their outcomes have been disappointing globally. New ablative techniques have brought important advances but the patient's profile has to be taken into account in the choice of the therapeutic strategies. The renin-angiotensin system plays a major role in the phenomena of remodelling following the onset of atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system can have a real place in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, not only to maintain sinus rhythm but primarily to prevent cardiovascular accidents in these patients with atrial fibrillation and in some cases to prevent the occurrence of atrial fibrillation, for example in hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie A et rythmologie, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France. jean-yves.le-heuzey@egp.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Le Heuzey
authors.forename: Eloi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marijon
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chachoua
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Waintraub
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lepillier
authors.forename: Akli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otmani
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lavergne
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pornin
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents