Dronedarone or amiodarone for rhythm control for atrial fibrillation: implications from the DIONYSOS study.
Management of persistent AF involves rhythm or rate control strategies and thromboprophylaxis for cardioembolic events. Although amiodarone appears to be more effective than other current antiarrhythmics for a rhythm control approach in AF patients, many side effects limit its long-term use. Dronedarone is a new antiarrhythmic drug that may offer advantages for rhythm control, given its relative safety (although not in patients with decompensated heart failure), efficacy and tolerability. With regard to the latter, dronedarone has fewer adverse effects and is better tolerated than amiodarone. Nonetheless, in one head-to-head comparison of dronedarone and amiodarone, the latter drug was superior to dronedarone for maintenance of sinus rhythm post cardioversion, but dronedarone was safer and better tolerated, with useful benefit to decrease hospitalizations and thus healthcare costs. This provides clinicians (and patients) with a new option when choosing antiarrhythmic therapy.
Burak
B
Pamukcu
Gregory Yh
GY
Lip
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077764:Dronedarone; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000077764:Dronedarone; D000638:Amiodarone