Pharmacological management of atrial arrhythmias

Abstract

This issue provides a clinical overview of atrial arrythmias, focusing on their pharmacological management which has developed diversely over the last decades. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia diagnosed in clinical practice. Rhythm and rate strategies are considered equivalent for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). Moreover, both strategies are intended for improving symptoms and quality of life. There are mostly channel blockers affecting the sodium and potassium channels to prevent rhythm generation or delay its propagation. Maintaining a heart rate of 60-80 bpm at rest or < 115 during exercise is essential for normal body function. The ventricular heart rate control is done using drug categories such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, cardiac glycosides and others.