title: Utility of anti-arrhythmic medications in 'lone atrial fibrillation'.
abstract: Lone atrial fibrillation is a set of heterogeneous disorders grouped together due to our limited understanding of their pathophysiology. Rate control and rhythm control are two strategies used to treat atrial fibrillation but neither has shown improvement in mortality. Therefore, the goal of treatment in patients with lone atrial fibrillation is to improve health related quality of life. Anti-arrhythmic medications are not well studied in lone atrial fibrillation patient population in randomized controlled fashion. However, inferences can be made from trials that mainly included paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients. Anti-arrhythmic medications are useful in maintenance of sinus rhythm and probably improve quality of life in lone atrial fibrillation.
authors.forename: Ramanan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumareswaran
authors.affiliation: St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, 6-050Q, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1W8, Canada. dorianp@smh.ca.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorian
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents