Dronedarone as a new treatment option for atrial fibrillation patients: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical practice.
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, affecting 1 - 2% of the population. Despite several developments in antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic and device-based cardiac therapies, few noteworthy antiarrhythmic drugs have been developed.


METHODS
Dronedarone, a modified analogue of amiodarone, has the pharmacological ability of blocking multiple ion channels. This overview summarizes the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of dronedarone, evaluates its potential application to daily clinical cardiology practice according to the evidence provided by clinical trials, and provides a future clinical perspective for the use of this drug.


RESULTS
The readers will gain an understanding of the findings of recent trials performed with dronedarone, which will provide important information for this relatively new antiarrhythmic drug, used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.


CONCLUSIONS
Dronedarone provides a reasonable efficacy and safety profile. Recent clinical trials indicate that dronedarone may support maintenance of sinus rhythm, decrease hospitalizations and reduce healthcare costs even in AF patients with structural heart disease but without severe or unstable cardiac failure.
University of Birmingham, Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, B18 7QH, UK. g.y.h.lip@bham.ac.uk
Burak
B
Pamukcu
Gregory Y H
GY
Lip
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000077764:Dronedarone; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000077764:Dronedarone; D000638:Amiodarone