Atrial Fibrillation

EnglishSpanishDrug Class & Related Drugs
It is a tachyarrhythmia which, from a hemodynamic point of view, results in loss of coordinated, atrial contraction that is substituted for sporadic, vermicular contractions. These are called fibrillatory (f) waves and take the place of P waves. This tachyarrhythmia can be paroxysmal, acute (the episode takes place within 24 to 48 hours), or chronic. The frequency of these waves often exceeds rates of 400 beats/min.

Consequently, the atrium fails to be empty and it therefore remains functionally in diastole. As regards pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation, we could find a reentry of atrial stimuli through multiple circuits that would find both refractory and excitable areas. This uncoordinated heart activity is called delirium cordis. The ventricle responds with frequent, irregular waves.

Although it remains under atrial control, and thus the QRS complexes are supraventricular, only a number of them ranging from 100 to 200 go through the ventricle. Atrial fibrillation doubles the total number of deaths from cardiovascular causes.

Es una taquiarritmia donde existe ausencia completa de contracciones auriculares coordinadas y eficaces desde el punto de vista hemodinámico, reemplazadas por otras parciales, vermiculares, que son denominadas ondas fibrilatorias (f) que sustituyen la onda P. Puede ser paroxística, aguda (con episodios de 24 a 48 hs de duración) o crónica. La frecuencia auricular es de 400
o más contracciones por minuto, lo que dificulta su vaciamiento y funcionalmente permanece en diástole.

En su patogenia se encontraría la reentrada de estímulos auriculares por múltiples circuitos que hallarían zonas refractarias y otras excitables. Esta incoordinada actividad cardíaca se llama delirium cordis. El ventrículo responde con ondas frecuentes e irregulares, aunque permanece bajo control auricular, por lo cual los complejos QRS son supraventriculares y solamente pasan al ventrículo un número variable entre 100 y 200. La fibrilación auricular incrementa al doble el total de las muertes por causa cardiovascular.

Cardizem generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Cardizem CD generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Cardizem LA generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Cartia XT generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Catapres generic name: clonidine class: antiadrenergic agents, centrally acting
Coreg generic name: carvedilol class: non-cardioselective beta blockers
Coreg CR generic name: carvedilol class: non-cardioselective beta blockers
Digitek generic name: digoxin class: group V antiarrhythmics, inotropic agents
Digox generic name: digoxin class:
Dilacor XR generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Dilt-XR generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Diltiazem Hydrochloride CD generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Diltiazem Hydrochloride XR generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Lanoxin generic name: digoxin class: group V antiarrhythmics, inotropic agents
Matzim LA generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Multaq generic name: dronedarone class: group III antiarrhythmics
Rythmol generic name: propafenone class: group I antiarrhythmics
Tambocor generic name: flecainide class: group I antiarrhythmics
Tiazac generic name: diltiazem class: calcium channel blocking agents, group IV antiarrhythmics
Xarelto generic name: rivaroxaban class: factor Xa inhibitors