Atrial fibrillation is the commonest sustained cardiac rhythm abnormality, leading to substantial mortality and morbidity from stroke, thromboembolism and heart failure. Whilst the benefits of antithrombotic therapy in preventing stroke in atrial fibrillation are increasingly recognised, further developments in thromboprophylaxis are needed, especially since warfarin confers the inconvenience o...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm disorder in older adults, and its prevalence has increased rapidly in recent years. The health issues associated with atrial fibrillation are not limited to physiological problems, as it also contributes to an increased risk of falls, which may be related to cardiovascular co-morbidities and medication use. The aim of this study was to det...

BACKGROUND The incidence and risk factors for hospitalized atrial fibrillation have not been previously assessed in a national population of dialysis patients. METHODS We analyzed the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Study (DMMS) Wave II in a historical cohort study of hospitalized atrial fibrillation. Data from 3374 patients who started dialysis in 199...

INTRODUCTION Dronedarone, a benzofuran derivative with a structure similar to amiodarone, has been developed as a potential therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation. AIM To review the published evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of dronedarone use in patients with atrial fibrillation. EVIDENCE REVIEW Available evidence suggests that dronedarone 400 mg orally twice daily can len...

BACKGROUND The prevalence of atrial fibrillation is increasing rapidly; however, to date, population-based data are lacking on the attributable cost of illness of atrial fibrillation from a societal perspective, including both direct and indirect costs. METHODS The study was an incidence-based cost-of-illness study based on national registries covering the entire population of Denmark. We ide...

Cryptogenic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) account for approximately one-third of stroke patients [1]. Paroxys-mal atrial fibrillation (PAF) has been suggested as a major etiology of these cryptogenic strokes [2, 3]. PAF can be difficult to diagnose because it is intermittent, often brief, and asymptomatic. PAF might be more prevalent than persistent atrial fibrillation in stroke an...

The effect of suppressing sinus rhythm on initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation was studied in 17 thoraeotomized and artificially ventilated dogs. Atrial fibrillation was evoked by methacholine chloride applied to the right atrium followed by light mechanical stimulation. Episodes of fibrillation were compared before and after sinus rhythm had been suppressed by injection of absolut...

Recognition that the initiation of atrial fibrillation often is dependent on arrhythmogenic foci within the pulmonary veins1 opened a new chapter in our understanding of the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation, which in turn has led to dramatic improvements in our ability to ablate atrial fibrillation. Based on experimental studies and clinical studies that used a variety of catheter and surgical...

SUMMARY In a series of 135 patients with mitral valvular stenosis, three groups were identified: those in sinus rhythm, those with intermittent atrial fibrillation, and those with longstanding, established atrial fibrillation. Examination of the relationships between atrial fibrillation, hemodynamic findings and radiologic data in mitral stenosis was undertaken. Analysis of clinical and hemodyn...

introduction: amiodarone is an effective drug for life-threatening arrhythmias like recurrent ventricular fibrillation and atrial fibrillation. amiodarone creates rarely genitourinary side effects are seen. these are epididymitis, testicular dysfunction and impotance. amiodarone aggregates and triggers inflammation in the head of the epididym. case report: we present the case of a patient who d...