[New fields of research in pharmacological antiarrhythmic therapy]

Large scale clinical trials, the growth of ablative techniques and introduction of implantable defibrillators have marginalised pharmacological treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. However, the development of molecules targeting ionic currents or channels with specific tissular expressions could reverse this situation. In addition, advances in genetics in cellular therapy could open new perspectives for antiarrhythmic treatments. Finally, our knowledge of the molecular and cellular bases of arrhythmias and the role played by different neuro-hormonal systems have identified new therapeutic targets which often allow intervention before the occurrence of an arrhythmia.