title: New pharmacological approaches to atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia facing physicians, afflicting 13% of men and 11% of women over 85 years of age. Epidemiological studies estimate that there are ≥ 11 million AF sufferers in the seven major economies and that its prevalence will increase two- to threefold over the next 50 years. Current strategies for treating AF involve either sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance or heart rate control, combined with anticoagulation therapy. Although SR control is the preferred and most effective treatment of AF, none of the SR control drugs currently available are able to maintain rhythm without significant side effects. In this article we discuss some of the recent advancements in developing new antiarrhythmic drugs for AF.
authors.affiliation: Xention Ltd, Iconix Park, London Road, Pampisford, Cambridge CB22 3EG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Milnes
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Madge
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D007473:Ion Channels