title: Evaluation of dronedarone as a therapeutic option for patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the predominant dysrhythmia affecting approximately 2·4 million people in the United States and over 6 million Europeans. Dronedarone is a benzofuran derivative of amiodarone newly approved in 2009 for the treatment of AF. Here, we comment on the efficacy and safety of dronedarone in patients with AF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eight randomized controlled trials were analysed in this article. Several trials showed that dronedarone therapy delayed AF recurrence, controlled ventricular rate and reduced incidences of hospitalization or death. However, some of the studies were terminated early due to an excess mortality rate. Further studies on long-term safety and trials on direct comparison to rate controlling medications are suggested to obtain additional insight of dronedarone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dronedarone reduces the incidence of AF recurrences, hospitalization and death in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF. However, dronedarone should not be used in high-risk patients with permanent AF or patients with unstable chronic heart failure (HF) due to safety concerns.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077764:Dronedarone; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000077764:Dronedarone; D000638:Amiodarone