Atrial fibrillation : New anticoagulants and antiarrhythmic drugs.
Summary of "Atrial fibrillation : New anticoagulants and antiarrhythmic drugs."
Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of arrhythmia and one of the most frequent causes of ischemic stroke. Several new anticoagulants have recently been introduced as alternatives to vitamin-K antagonists for prophylaxis of ischemic stroke and tested in phase-3 studies for efficacy and safety. Identifying patients who will profit in particular from the new anticoagulant therapy is crucial to the clinical application of these drugs. Vernakalant and dronedarone are new antiarrhythmic drugs for rhythm control of atrial fibrillation. However, therapeutic efficacy of the new agents still has to be proven.
Affiliation
Abteilung für Rhythmologie, Department für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Gebäude A1, 48149, Münster, Deutschland, elif.kaya@ukmuenster.de.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Herz
ISSN: 1615-6692
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22382136
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00059-012-3589-x
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Atrial Flutter
Rapid, irregular atrial contractions caused by a block of electrical impulse conduction in the right atrium and a reentrant wave front traveling up the inter-atrial septum and down the right atrial free wall or vice versa. Unlike ATRIAL FIBRILLATION which is caused by abnormal impulse generation, typical atrial flutter is caused by abnormal impulse conduction. As in atrial fibrillation, patients with atrial flutter cannot effectively pump blood into the lower chambers of the heart (HEART VENTRICLES).
Digoxin
A cardiotonic glycoside obtained mainly from Digitalis lanata; it consists of three sugars and the aglycone DIGOXIGENIN. Digoxin has positive inotropic and negative chronotropic activity. It is used to control ventricular rate in ATRIAL FIBRILLATION and in the management of congestive heart failure with atrial fibrillation. Its use in congestive heart failure and sinus rhythm is less certain. The margin between toxic and therapeutic doses is small. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p666)
Amiodarone
An antianginal and antiarrhythmic drug. It increases the duration of ventricular and atrial muscle action by inhibiting Na,K-activated myocardial adenosine triphosphatase. There is a resulting decrease in heart rate and in vascular resistance.
Warfarin
An anticoagulant that acts by inhibiting the synthesis of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors. Warfarin is indicated for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of venous thrombosis and its extension, pulmonary embolism, and atrial fibrillation with embolization. It is also used as an adjunct in the prophylaxis of systemic embolism after myocardial infarction. Warfarin is also used as a rodenticide.
Anticoagulants
Agents that prevent blood clotting. Naturally occurring agents in the blood are included only when they are used as drugs.
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