Atrial fibrillation and the pharmacological treatment: the role of propafenone

Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent cardiac rhythm disturbance, with prevalence increasing with age. This disease is a major risk factor for ischaemic stroke. The costs resulting from atrial fibrillation are really impressive. Pharmacological agents are the first line therapy for the management of atrial fibrillation. Antiarrhythmic drugs are used to terminate arrhythmias, as acute treatment for conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation, and to maintain sinus rhythm, as chronic therapy for prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrences. Among antiarrhythmic agents, drugs that inhibit early sodium current (as propafenone) are proven effective in atrial fibrillation. In this review, the most relevant data on propafenone are provided.