Review article Oral antiarrhythmic drugs in converting recent onset atrial fibrillation • Vera H.M. Deneer, Marieke B.I. Borgh, J. Herre Kingma, Loraine Lie-A-Huen and Jacobus R.B.J. Brouwers Introduction Pharm World Sci 2004; 26: 66–78. © 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia. The incidence of atrial fibrillation depends on the age of V.H.M. Deneer (correspondence, e-mail: the study population. The incidence varies between 2
[email protected]), M.B.I. Borgh, L. Lie-A-Huen: Department of Clinical Pharmacy or 3 new cases per 1,000 population per year between J.H. Kingma: Department of Cardiology, St Antonius Hospital, the ages of 55 and 64 years to 35 new cases per 1,000 Koekoekslaan 1, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands population per year between the ages of 85 and 94 J.R.B.J. Brouwers: Groningen University Institute for Drug 1 Exploration (GUIDE), Section of Pharmacotherapy, University years . Treatment of an episode of paroxysmal atrial fi- of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, brillation consists of restoring sinus rhythm by DC- The Netherlands electrical cardioversion or by the intravenous adminis- Key words tration of an antiarrhythmic drug, but frequently the Atrial fibrillation arrhythmia spontaneously terminates1–3. After one or Amiodarone more episodes of atrial fibrillation chronic prophylac- Antiarrhythmic drugs Digoxin tic treatment with an antiarrhythmic drug is often Episodic treatment started for maintenance of sinus rhythm4–8. Another Flecainide treatment strategy consists of allowing the arrhythmia Propafenone Quinidine to exist in combination with pharmacological ven- Sotalol tricular rate control.