Synonyms
Definition
Antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) are a group of pharmaceuticals used to treat or prevent heart rhythm disorders (cardiac arrhythmias) by altering the electrophysiological properties of the heart, typically through direct interaction with ion channels, receptors, or pumps/exchangers (Dan et al. 2018).
Basic Characteristics
Clinical Use
During a normal heartbeat, electrical impulses generated in the sinoatrial node conduct across the atria to the atrioventricular node. After a brief delay, the electrical impulse rapidly conducts along the His-Purkinje conduction system, resulting in synchronous activation of both ventricles that is necessary for optimal pump function of the heart. During cardiac arrhythmias, electrical impulse formation and/or conduction is disturbed, leading to excessively fast, slow, or irregular electrical activity of one or more parts of the heart. Although cardiac arrhythmias can be completely asymptomatic, they often lead...
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References
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Heijman, J., Dobrev, D. (2021). Antiarrhythmic Drugs. In: Offermanns, S., Rosenthal, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57401-7_164
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57401-7_164
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