Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

[Effects of cilostazol in patients with bradycardiac atrial fibrillation]

M Kishida1, K Watanabe, T Tsuruoka

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, Ehime.

Journal of Cardiology
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Cilostazol significantly improved heart rate and reduced pauses in patients with bradycardiac atrial fibrillation. This antithrombotic agent also demonstrated positive effects on cardiac structure and natriuretic peptide levels.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Bradycardiac atrial fibrillation presents challenges in heart rate management.
  • Cilostazol, an antithrombotic agent, is known to affect heart rate.
  • Investigating cilostazol's chronotropic effects in cardiac failure is crucial.

Observation:

  • Twelve patients with bradycardiac atrial fibrillation were studied.
  • Patients received daily oral administration of 100-200 mg cilostazol for 6 months.
  • Holter monitoring, echocardiography, and biomarker measurements were conducted before and after treatment.

Findings:

  • Cilostazol increased 24-hour total heartbeat counts (mean heart rate from 48 to 60 bpm) and decreased pause frequency.
  • Significant reductions were observed in cardiothoracic ratio and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter.
  • Brain natriuretic peptide and atrial natriuretic peptide levels decreased significantly post-cilostazol treatment.

Implications:

  • Cilostazol shows beneficial effects in patients with bradycardiac atrial fibrillation.
  • The drug may improve atrioventricular nodal conductivity and coronary blood supply.
  • Further research into cilostazol's role in managing bradycardiac arrhythmias is warranted.
Abstract

More Related Videos

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers01:20

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers

Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers01:24

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which indirectly block calcium...
Decreased pulse rate01:14

Decreased pulse rate

Bradycardia is a medical condition in which the heart rate is slower than normal. It occurs when the heart's natural pacemaker, the sinus node, generates slower electrical impulses than the standard rhythm. In adults, bradycardia is diagnosed when the pulse rate falls below 60 beats per minute, indicating a deviation from the normal heart rate range.
There are specific risk factors that can elevate the likelihood of developing bradycardia. Advanced age is a significant factor, with bradycardia...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers01:22

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers01:22

Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers

β-adrenergic antagonists, commonly known as β-blockers, block the effects of sympathetic neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (ADR). They have several beneficial effects in heart failure treatment. They reduce heart rate, the force of contraction, and cardiac muscle relaxation. They also slow the atrial-ventricular conduction rate and raise the threshold for arrhythmias. The concentration of β-blockers determines their effects on bronchodilation, vasodilation, and...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers01:12

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers

Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of the heart's...