Duration of heart failure and the risk of atrial fibrillation: different mechanisms at different times?

Rankin, A.C. and Workman, A.J. (2009) Duration of heart failure and the risk of atrial fibrillation: different mechanisms at different times? Cardiovascular Research, 84(2), pp. 180-181. (doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvp299) (PMID:19713283) (PMCID:PMC2762576)

Abstract

Chronic heart failure increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), with the prevalence of AF paralleling the severity of heart failure.1 Factors that underlie this increased susceptibility to AF may include electrical, structural, and neurohumoral changes.2 In AF, it is recognized that atrial electrophysiological remodelling occurs and contributes to the perpetuation of the arrhythmia, most notably the decrease of effective refractory period (ERP) which predisposes to re-entry by shortening the wavelength. Does heart failure cause similar changes in atrial electrophysiology that predispose to the arrhythmia?

• Item Type: Articles (Erratum)
• Additional Information: Due to publisher embargo the full text of this paper will not be available until November 2010
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Workman, Dr Antony and Rankin, Professor Andrew
• Authors: Rankin, A.C., and Workman, A.J.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Clinical Specialities
• Journal Name: Cardiovascular Research
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0008-6363
• ISSN (Online): 1755-3245
• Published Online: 27 August 2009
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Cardiovascular Research 84(2):180-181
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.