Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0038454 (stroke)
 147,016 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Atrial fibrillation is a frequent cardiac arrhythmia in the elderly, which can be treated either by rate control, or by rhythm control through chemical or electrical cardioversion. Rate control is easily achieved, but leaves the arrhythmia with its inherent risk of heart failure and stroke intact. Although rhythm control is logistically more complex to obtain, it does restore normal sinus rhythm. However, dangerous antiarrhythmics are then needed to maintain this. Recently, two randomised trials showed that rate control is not inferior to rhythm control. Restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm was accompanied by a higher incidence of death, ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, stroke and the need for permanent pacemaker implantation. Recurrent atrial fibrillation can be treated optimally by rate control through digitalis, beta-blockers or calcium antagonists, accompanied by oral anticoagulation. Once the sinus rhythm has been restored, oral anticoagulation should be continued.
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PMID:[Cardioversion for atrial fibrillations: not better than ventricular rate control]. 1271 44

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia managed in clinical practice and it is associated with an increased risk of mortality, stroke and peripheral embolism. Unfortunately, the incidence of atrial fibrillation recurrence ranges from 40 to 50%, despite the attempts of electrical cardioversion and the administration of antiarrhythmic drugs. In this review, the literature data about predictors of atrial fibrillation recurrence are highlighted, with special regard to clinical, therapeutic, biochemical, ECG and echocardiographic parameters after electrical cardioversion and ablation. Identifying predictors of success in maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion or ablation may allow a better selection of patients to undergo these procedures. The aim is to reduce healthcare costs and avoid exposing patients to unnecessary procedures and related complications. Recurrent atrial fibrillation depends on a combination of several parameters and each patient should be individually assessed for such a risk of recurrence.
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PMID:Risk factors for atrial fibrillation recurrence: a literature review. 2311 71