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Previous Volume 351:2408-2416 December 2, 2004 Number 23 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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This Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they exist. The article ends with the author's clinical recommendations.

A 77-year-old woman with a history of hypertension treated with metoprolol presents for her annual examination. She reports no new symptoms. The examination is remarkable only for the finding of an irregular heart rate. Electrocardiographic testing reveals atrial fibrillation at an average rate of 75 beats per minute. She has no history of arrhythmia, coronary disease, valvular disease, diabetes, alcohol abuse, transient . . . [Full Text of this Article]

The Clinical Problem

Risk of Stroke and Death

Associated Diseases and Predisposing Conditions

Evaluation

Symptoms and Hemodynamic Consequences

Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation

Strategies and Evidence

Anticoagulant Therapy

Rate Control

Rhythm Control

Rate Control versus Rhythm Control

Ablation

Areas of Uncertainty

Guidelines

Recommendations

Source Information

From the Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Page at the Division of Cardiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 N.E. Pacific St., Rm. AA510, Health Sciences Bldg., Box 356422, Seattle WA 98195-6422, or at rpage@u.washington.edu.

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