Author(s)

Raj Parikh, Philip J. Kadowitz

Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, USA.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is a major risk factor for stroke, heart failure, and death. Current treatments focus on anti-coagulation as well as rate-control and rhythm-control strategies. Frequent INR checks associated with warfarin along with several adverse side effects of anti-arrhythmics have propelled investigations into novel treatments for atrial fibrillation. Research is focused not only on pioneering new pharmacological antico- agulation and anti-arrhythmic agents but also on improving surgical techniques in hopes of treating the arrhythmia. Here, we first briefly discuss the current treatment options, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, for atrial fibrillation. We then present a focused review of recent animal and human investigations that examine the use of novel an-ticoagulation agents, mechanisms of new anti-arrhythmics, analyze potential triggers of atrial fibrillation, and highlight the role of genetics in atrial fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation; Atrial Flutter; Arrhythmia;Anticoagulation; Stroke

Parikh, R. and Kadowitz, P. (2012) Novel therapies for treating atrial fibrillation. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 2, 242-259. doi: 10.4236/wjcd.2012.24040.