Substrates and potential therapeutics of ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure

Eur J Pharmacol. 2018 Aug 15:833:349-356. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.06.024. Epub 2018 Jun 27.

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by ventricular contractile dysfunction. About 50% of death in patients with HF are due to fetal ventricular arrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Understanding ventricular arrhythmic substrates and discovering effective antiarrhythmic interventions are extremely important for improving the prognosis of patients with HF and reducing its mortality. In this review, we discussed ventricular arrhythmic substrates and current clinical therapeutics for ventricular arrhythmias in HF. Base on the fact that classic antiarrhythmic drugs have the limited efficacy, side effects, and proarrhythmic potentials, we also updated some therapeutic strategies for the development of potential new antiarrhythmic interventions for patients with HF.

Keywords: Antiarrhythmic drugs; Catheter ablation; Heart failure; Ventricular arrhythmia; Ventricular arrhythmic substrate.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use
  • Heart Conduction System / cytology
  • Heart Conduction System / drug effects*
  • Heart Conduction System / physiopathology
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / mortality
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Heart Ventricles / cytology
  • Heart Ventricles / drug effects
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / physiology
  • Prognosis
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / drug therapy*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / mortality
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / drug therapy*
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / mortality
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / physiopathology

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents