Antiarrhythmic drugs. Key references.

Antiarrhythmic drugs.

Most patients with cardiac arrhythmias require treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs, although recent advances in surgical and electrical techniques are promising. The ideal antiarrhythmic compound should have: (1) A wide range of therapeutic activity in both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. (2) Parenteral and oral formulations to permit simple dosage schedules. (3) Pharmacokinetic properties ...

Antiarrhythmic Drugs

Cardiac arrhythmias result from alterations in the orderly sequence of depolarization followed by repolarization in the heart. Cardiac arrhythmias may result in alterations in heart rate or rhythm and arise from alterations in impulse generation or conduction. The clinical implications of disordered cardiac activation range from asymptomatic palpitations to lethal arrhythmia. Pharmacological ma...

Antiarrhythmic drugs: present and future.

The treatment of cardiac arrhythmias has undergone a sea change with the advent of catheter ablative procedures (radiofrequency ablation) and use of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The antiarrhythmic drugs at times are used to prevent device related arrhythmia rather than being used for primary treatment of arrhythmias. Antiarrhythmic drugs are grouped according to their drug acti...

Key references on heart failure.

Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Morgan HE, Baker KM. Cardiac hypertrophy: mechanical, neural, and endocrine dependence. Circulation. 1991;83:13-25. Review. Morgan HE. Cellular aspects of cardiac failure. Circulation. 1993;87(suppl IV):IV-4-IV-6. Review. Lakatta EG. Excitation-contraction coupling in heart failure. Hosp Pract. 1991;26:85-88, 91-98. Review. Morgan JP. Abnormal intracellular mod...

Mechanisms of action of antiarrhythmic drugs.