title: Future perspectives in the pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure.
abstract: Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by significant impairment of cardiac ventricular function. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly observed sustained arrhythmia in clinical practice. Both HF and AF are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and their prevalence increases with age. Approximately 50% of patients with moderate HF die due to ventricular fibrillation that leads to sudden cardiac death. Patients with AF exhibit increased mortality due to HF and stroke. HF and AF often co-exist, and the development of the other condition further deteriorates prognosis. Both chronic HF and AF lead to structural and electrophysiological changes in the heart called remodeling, modifying therapeutic targets including those for antiarrhythmic intervention. Current pharmacological treatment of arrhythmias has major limitations due to low efficacy and serious adverse effects. In this review, the main aspects of electrical remodeling in HF and AF are discussed along with possible novel targets identified for future pharmacological antiarrhythmic therapy.
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baczko
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leprán
authors.forename: Loránd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Danina M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Muntean
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Dom ter 12., 6720 Szeged, Hungary. baczko.istvan@med.u-szeged.hu.
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Light
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000187:drug effects; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents