Novel therapies for treating atrial fibrillation

作     者：Raj Parikh Philip J. Kadowitz 

作者机构：Department of Pharmacology Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans USA 

出 版 物：《World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases》 (心血管病（英文）)

年 卷 期：2012年第2卷第4期

页      面：242-259页

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 100201[医学-内科学(含：心血管病、血液病、呼吸系病、消化系病、内分泌与代谢病、肾病、风湿病、传染病)] 10[医学] 

主　　题：Atrial Fibrillation Atrial Flutter Arrhythmia Anticoagulation Stroke 

摘      要：Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is a major risk factor for stroke, heart failure, and death. Current treatments focus on anti-coagulation as well as rate-control and rhythm-control strategies. Frequent INR checks associated with warfarin along with several adverse side effects of anti-arrhythmics have propelled investigations into novel treatments for atrial fibrillation. Research is focused not only on pioneering new pharmacological antico- agulation and anti-arrhythmic agents but also on improving surgical techniques in hopes of treating the arrhythmia. Here, we first briefly discuss the current treatment options, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, for atrial fibrillation. We then present a focused review of recent animal and human investigations that examine the use of novel an-ticoagulation agents, mechanisms of new anti-arrhythmics, analyze potential triggers of atrial fibrillation, and highlight the role of genetics in atrial fibrillation.