Open AccessUpdate on atrial fibrillation: Part II
Author(s) -
Savelieva Irina,
Camm John
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.20136
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , dronedarone , cardiology , tolerability , management of atrial fibrillation , sotalol , intensive care medicine , amiodarone , adverse effect
Antiarrhythmic drugs are an essential tool in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). Although we are already on the threshold of a large expansion in the use of ablation therapies, these will not, however, be appropriate for all patients, and pharmacological therapies will continue to have an important place in the management of atrial fibrillation. The plethora of antiarrhythmic drugs currently available for the treatment of atrial fibrillation is a reflection that none is wholly satisfactory, each having limited efficacy combined with poor safety and tolerability. Improved class III antiarrhythmic drugs, such as dronedarone, new classes of antiarrhythmic agents, such as atrial repolarization delaying agents, and upstream therapies dealing with substrate, represent potential sources of new pharmacological therapies. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.