title: Vernakalant hydrochloride to treat atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravenous vernakalant (Brinavess) has been developed and approved in Europe as a safe and efficacious drug to rapidly convert recent onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in patients with no minimal or structural heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pharmacology of vernakalant and the pivotal Phase II and III clinical trials undertaken during its development are discussed with regard to safety and efficacy. An extensive PubMed search was used to identify suitable papers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As yet, there is no evidence of benefit over and above intravenous flecainide or propafenone for patients in whom vernakalant has a class 1a recommendation. As such, it is likely to be most useful in centres where only amiodarone is available.
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Cardiovascular Medicine , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Yee Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
mesh_terms: D000840:Anisoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000840:Anisoles; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D011759:Pyrrolidines; C524581:vernakalant