Dronedarone in atrial fibrillation: the aftermath of the PALLAS trial

Abstract

Dronedarone is a new antiarrhythmic currently approved for use among patients with nonpermanent atrial fibrillation (AF) based on the positive results of the ATHENA trial. Dronedarone was recently investigated in the PALLAS (Permanent Atrial Fibrillation Outcome Study Using Dronedarone on Top of Standard Therapy) trial, a landmark trial that evaluated treatment with dronedarone compared with placebo among older patients with permanent AF. The trial was terminated early due to a significant increase in adverse cardiovascular events among dronedarone-treated patients. In this article, the trial is presented and the significance and practical implications of the results in the management of older patients with AF briefly discussed.

Keywords::

• antiarrhythmic
• atrial fibrillation
• dronedarone
• trial

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.