Anti-arrhythmic Effects of I Na , I Kr , and Combined I Kr – I CaL Blockade in an Experimental Model of Acute Stretch-Related Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction Atrial dilatation is commonly associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), but the electrophysiological mechanisms and the implications for anti-arrhythmic therapy are poorly understood. In a model of acute stretch-related AF in isolated rabbit hearts, we evaluated the electrophysiological effects of three different anti-arrhythmic drugs: dofetilide, flecainide and BRL-32872 (associating I Kr and I CaL blocking properties).