Via practica 12/2007

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN GENERAL PRACTITIONER‘S PRACTICE AND VALUE OF RAAS INHIBITORS IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF THIS ARRHYTHMIA

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice. However, it is difficult to treat and manage. Anti-arrhythmic drug therapy, to maintain sinus-rhythm or frequency control, is limited by inadequate efficacy and potentially serious adverse effects. Embolism is one from the heaviest consequences of this arrhythmia and is close to underlying heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. There is an increasing interest in novel therapeutic approaches or management of atrial fibrillation and angiotensin converting-enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) may play important role in this process. This article reviews information pertaining to the clinical use and mechanism of action of ACE-inhibitors and ARBs in atrial fibrillation.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation, treatment, RAAS, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers.