Dronedarone for atrial fibrillation: a new therapeutic agent

Review

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Authors: Pawan D Patel, Rohit Bhuriya, Dipal D Patel, et al

Published Date August 2009 Volume 2009:5 Pages 635 - 642

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S6185

Pawan D Patel, Rohit Bhuriya, Dipal D Patel, Bhaskar L Arora, Param P Singh, Rohit R Arora

Department of Cardiology, Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA

Abstract: Atrial fibrillation is the most common of the serious cardiac rhythm disturbances and is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality. Amiodarone is currently one of the most widely used and most effective antiarrhythmic agents for atrial fibrillation. But during chronic usage amiodarone can cause some serious extra cardiac adverse effects, including effects on the thyroid. Dronedarone is a newer therapeutic agent with a structural resemblance to amiodarone, with two molecular changes, and with a better side effect profile. Dronedarone is a multichannel blocker and, like amiodarone, possesses both a rhythm and a rate control property in atrial fibrillation. The US Food and Drug Administration approved dronedarone for atrial fibrillation on July 2, 2009. In this review, we discuss the role of dronedarone in atrial fibrillation.

Keywords: dronedarone, amiodarone, atrial fibrillation