Newer groups of drugs for treatment of AF

Newer groups of drugs for treatment of AF

Newer groups of drugs for treatment of AF include [1]:

  1. Atrial repolarization delaying agents like vernakalant
  2. Newer class III agents
  3. Sodium-calcium channel blockers
  4. Stretch receptor blockers
  5. IKACH blockers
  6. Gap junction modifiers

Intravenous vernakalant has been approved in the European Union for the rapid conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm. Advantage of vernakalant is that it acts on atrial specific channels without any propensity for ventricular arrhythmias. It blocks atrial-specific potassium and sodium ion channels, prolonging atrial refractory periods slowing atrial conduction in a rate dependent manner.

Reference

  1. Sony Jacob, Omaima A Ali, Victoria Pidlaoan, Apurva O Badheka, Nicholas Z Kerin. Pharmacotherapy of atrial fibrillation: a pathophysiological perspective and review. Am J Ther. 2011 May;18(3):241-60.