Abstract:Pharmacological intervention remains as cornerstone in the clinical management of cardiac arrhythmias. Traditional classification of antiarrhythmic drugs has been used widely, facilitating clinical practice and drug development. However, the limitations of previous classification has been gradually recognized because of recent progress in the development of cardiac electrophysiology. Therefore, a modernized comprehensive classification was proposed recently. In this review, we will summarize the major advance in the classification of antiarrhythmic drugs, potential mechanisms and clinical applications.