title: Dronedarone for atrial fibrillation therapy.
abstract: Dronedarone is a new benzofuran derivative that has been developed as an antiarrhythmic agent on the basis of the amiodarone molecular structure with the intent of maintaining the same pharmacological effects while reducing thyroid and pulmonary toxicity. The drug is a multichannel blocker with antiadrenergic properties: it reduces heart rate and prolongs the action potential duration. Dronedarone is primarily metabolized by cytochrome P450; its half-life is much shorter than that of amiodarone because of a lower lipophilicity. As a consequence, only 7 days are needed to reach steady-state plasma levels. It has been tested in clinical trials both for rate and rhythm control and, even if its antiarrhythmic efficacy seems to be somehow lower than that of amiodarone, dronedarone is less often discontinued due to adverse reactions or organic toxicity. For these reasons, dronedarone can be very useful in long-term treatment of atrial fibrillation, by reducing hospitalizations and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Cardiologia, DMCO Osp. San Paolo, University of Milan, Via A. di Rudinì 8, 20142 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzocchi
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardi
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077764:Dronedarone; D006207:Half-Life; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000077764:Dronedarone; D000638:Amiodarone