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Review
. 2003 Aug;89(8):939-43.
doi: 10.1136/heart.89.8.939.

Atrial fibrillation: classification, pathophysiology, mechanisms and drug treatment

Vias Markides  1 , Richard J Schilling
Affiliations
Review

Atrial fibrillation: classification, pathophysiology, mechanisms and drug treatment

Vias Markides et al. Heart. 2003 Aug.
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Temporal classification of atrial fibrillation (AF). An incident episode of AF presenting to medical attention may be the first ever detected episode of the arrhythmia, or represent recurrence of previously recognised arrhythmia (left). The episode may prove to be self terminating (paroxysmal), persistent (continuing until medical intervention such as DC cardioversion), or permanent (continuing for longer than one year or despite medical intervention such as DC cardioversion) (right).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Therapeutic goals in patients with atrial fibrillation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Fuster V, Ryden LE, Asinger RW, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: executive summary a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association task force on practice guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology committee for practice guidelines and policy conferences (committee to develop guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation) developed in collaboration with the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. Circulation 2001;104:2118–50. ▸ The definitive set of guidelines for the management of patients with AF. - PubMed
    1. Chen YH, Xu SJ, Bendahhou S, et al. KCNQ1 gain-of-function mutation in familial atrial fibrillation. Science 2003;299:251–4. - PubMed
    1. Haïssaguerre M, Jaïs P, Shah DC, et al. Spontaneous initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating in the pulmonary veins. N Engl J Med 1998;339:659–66. ▸ The original publication that highlighted the significance of arrhythmogenic foci, often located in pulmonary veins, in the initiation of AF and the efficacy of pulmonary vein ablation. - PubMed
    1. Lau CP, Tse HF, Ayers GM. Defibrillation-guided radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation secondary to an atrial focus. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;33:1217–26. - PubMed
    1. Bettoni M, Zimmermann M. Autonomic tone variations before the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2002;105:2753–9. ▸ A recent publication demonstrating the occurrence of significant changes in autonomic tone around the time of AF initiation. - PubMed

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