Recent advances in the pharmacological treatment of cardiac arrythmias.

Atrial and ventricular arrhythmias are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality and thus are a significant economic burden for healthcare systems. Currently available pharmacological agents have limited efficacy or the risk of relevant side effects, such as drug toxicity and proarrhythmic potential. Recent scientific developments have added new aspects and approaches to this field meriting a fresh review of treatment options. These include novel ion-channel blockers (e.g. dronedarone, celivarone, vernakalant, ranolazine), non-ion channel blockers (e.g. GsMtx4) such as gap junction modulators (rotigaptide) and drugs antagonizing the angiotensin system (ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers), which appear to have various effects on cardiac electrophysiology. Special emphasis is placed on new antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g. dantrolene) targeting molecular, proarrhythmogenic and structural remodeling. Finally, new developments in the prevention of thromboembolic complications of atrial fibrillation are discussed (dabigatran).