Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequently encountered sustained cardiac arrhythmia. Effective pharmacological treatment of AF remains an unmet cardiovascular need. The class III antiarrhythmic drug dronedarone has been developed to provide rhythm and rate control in AF patients with fewer side effects compared to amiodarone. Dronedarone significantly reduced the incidence of hospitalization due to cardiovascular events or death in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation but was associated with increased rates of heart failure, stroke and death from cardiovascular causes in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation. Clinical trial data are critically reviewed and recommendations for routine practice are discussed.
