Tedisamil in Coronary Disease: Additional Benefits in the Therapy of Atrial Fibrillation?

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation has recently come into clinical and research focus. In particular, ventricular rate control has been carefully compared with atrial rhythm control. Additionally, the recent discovery of atrial stunning has initiated clinical and research interest in atrial remodeling. Atrial fibrillation is more likely to occur when the atria are damaged by increased fibrosis. The ideal way to prevent atrial fibrillation and the risk of repetition is by tackling the root causes, such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Tedisamil is an unusual antifibrillatory compound that has a novel mechanism of action by inhibiting the transient outward current (Ito) and the repolarizing potassium currents in the sinoatrial node. Tedisamil works acutely against atrial fibrillation. Importantly, atrial fibrillation is often caused by or related to cardiac ischemia, and conversely, ischemia is caused by the increased oxygen demand of atrial fibrillation. Hence, the double properties of tedisamil as a drug that both inhibits atrial fibrillation and acts in an anti-ischemic mode are an attractive basis for future clinical research.