Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jonathan M. Kalman, Ahmed M. Al-Kaisey, Ramanathan Parameswaran, Joshua Hawson, Robert D. Anderson, Michael Lim, David Chieng, Stephen A. Joseph, Alex McLellan, Joseph B. Morton, Paul B. Sparks, Geoffrey Lee, Prashanthan Sanders, Peter M. Kistler
Summary: This study aimed to determine if the timing of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) affects arrhythmia outcomes. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the atrial arrhythmia free survival at 12 months post-ablation between patients who underwent early ablation and those who underwent delayed ablation. Other secondary outcomes also showed no significant difference. Therefore, delaying AF ablation by 12 months for antiarrhythmic drug management does not reduce the efficacy of ablation.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Felix Wiedmann, Christoph Beyersdorf, Xiao-Bo Zhou, Manuel Kraft, Amelie Paasche, Natasa Javorszky, Susanne Rinne, Henry Sutanto, Antonius Buscher, Kathrin Foerster, Antje Blank, Ibrahim El-Battrawy, Xin Li, Siegfried Lang, Ursula Tochtermann, Jamila Kremer, Rawa Arif, Matthias Karck, Niels Decher, Gunther van Loon, Ibrahim Akin, Martin Borggrefe, Stefan Kallenberger, Jordi Heijman, Walter E. Haefeli, Hugo A. Katus, Constanze Schmidt
Summary: Pharmacologically suppressing atrial potassium currents can prolong atrial refractoriness without affecting ventricular repolarization, leading to atrial-specific antiarrhythmic effects; The respiratory stimulant doxapram has been successfully used for cardioversion and rhythm control of atrial fibrillation in a clinically relevant porcine model, showing potential as a new antiarrhythmic drug for AF.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Patrick Lugenbiel, Katharina Govorov, Pascal Syren, Ann-Kathrin Rahm, Teresa Wieder, Maximilian Wunsch, Nadine Weiberg, Emili Manolova, Dominik Gramlich, Rasmus Rivinius, Daniel Finke, Lorenz H. Lehmann, Patrick A. Schweizer, Derk Frank, Fadwa A. El Tahry, Claus Bruehl, Tanja Heimberger, Steffi Sandke, Tanja Weis, Patrick Most, Bastian Schmack, Arjang Ruhparwar, Matthias Karck, Norbert Frey, Hugo A. Katus, Dierk Thomas
Summary: Atrial fibrillation is associated with electrical remodeling, which may be influenced by HDAC2 and NRSF, impacting action potential duration in atrial myocytes through direct regulation of K+ channel expression.
BASIC RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Oussama M. Wazni, Gopi Dandamudi, Nitesh Sood, Robert Hoyt, Jaret Tyler, Sarfraz Durrani, Mark Niebauer, Kevin Makati, Blair Halperin, Andre Gauri, Gustavo Morales, Mingyuan Shao, Jeffrey Cerkvenik, Rachelle E. Kaplon, Steven E. Nissen
Summary: In this multicenter trial, cryoballoon ablation as initial therapy was found to be superior to drug therapy in preventing atrial arrhythmia recurrence in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Serious procedure-related adverse events were uncommon.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ange Maguy, Yuvaraj Mahendran, Jean-Claude Tardif, David Busseuil, Jin Li
Summary: This study explores the association between autoantibodies targeting cardiac ion channels and unexplained AF. They found a common autoantibody response against K(ir)3.4 protein in patients with AF, even before the development of clinically apparent AF. Functional studies and a mouse model of K(ir)3.4 autoimmunity support the causal relationship between K(ir)3.4 autoantibodies and AF.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jason G. Andrade, Oussama M. Wazni, Malte Kuniss, Nathaniel M. Hawkins, Marc W. Deyell, Gian-Battista Chierchia, Steven Nissen, Atul Verma, George A. Wells, Ricky D. Turgeon
Summary: Cryoballoon catheter ablation has been shown to significantly improve arrhythmia outcomes, produce clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported outcomes, reduce subsequent health care resource use, and not increase the risk of serious adverse events compared with initial antiarrhythmic drug therapy in patients with treatment-naive AF.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Isaac W. Leon-acuna, Takeki Suzuki
Summary: Andrade et al. found that initial catheter cryoballoon ablation strategy resulted in lower incidence of persistent atrial fibrillation and lower arrhythmia burden compared to antiarrhythmic drug therapy in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation during 3 years of follow-up. The study builds upon the findings of the EARLY-AF trial and the STOP AF First trial. Due to the relatively small sample size (303 patients) and short follow-up period, it may be difficult to detect mortality benefits of cryoballoon ablation.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jonathan G. Tardos, Christopher J. Ronk, Miraj Y. Patel, Andrew Koren, Michael H. Kim
Summary: The study assessed the concordance between healthcare provider real-world practice and current guidelines in first-line rhythm management of atrial fibrillation patients, revealing a significant gap that requires further investigation and educational strategies.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Arnela Saljic, Thomas Jespersen, Rikke Buhl
Summary: Atrial fibrillation is becoming a serious health problem in the aging population. Animal models, particularly large animals like pigs, goats, dogs, and horses, are important tools in understanding the mechanisms of AF and testing new pharmacological interventions. This review focuses on anti-arrhythmic investigations in large animals, discussing commonly used methods for inducing AF and exploring potential new AF medication candidates.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jason G. Andrade, George A. Wells, Marc W. Deyell, Matthew Bennett, Vidal Essebag, Jean Champagne, Jean-Francois Roux, Derek Yung, Allan Skanes, Yaariv Khaykin, Carlos Morillo, Umjeet Jolly, Paul Novak, Evan Lockwood, Guy Amit, Paul Angaran, John Sapp, Stephan Wardell, Sandra Lauck, Laurent Macle, Atul Verma
Summary: In patients with symptomatic, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, catheter cryoballoon ablation was associated with a significantly lower rate of atrial fibrillation recurrence compared to antiarrhythmic drug therapy. The ablation group also had better outcomes in terms of atrial tachyarrhythmia occurrence and atrial fibrillation burden.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carla Cofino-Fabres, Robert Passier, Verena Schwach
Summary: Heart rhythm disorders and arrhythmias have a significant impact on society and individuals' quality of life. Current therapies only manage symptoms, highlighting the need for innovative test models and platforms to understand the underlying disease mechanisms of arrhythmias. This review outlines the key features of atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, including epidemiology, risk factors, therapies, and discusses the limitations and opportunities of current models for cardiac arrhythmia research, such as animal models and in vitro models using human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Baptiste Maille, Nathalie Lalevee, Marion Marlinge, Juliette Vahdat, Giovanna Mottola, Clara Degioanni, Lucille De Maria, Victor Klein, Franck Thuny, Frederic Franceschi, Jean-Claude Deharo, Regis Guieu, Julien Fromonot
Summary: This narrative review discusses the potential role of the adenosinergic system in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF). It provides insights into adenosinergic system signaling and its interactions with AF. Activation of adenosine receptors can affect the occurrence and maintenance of AF, and the adenosinergic system is also associated with the modulation of the autonomic nervous system and AF risk factors.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Douglas L. Packer, Jonathan P. Piccini, Kristi H. Monahan, Hussein R. Al-Khalidi, Adam P. Silverstein, Peter A. Noseworthy, Jeanne E. Poole, Tristram D. Bahnson, Kerry L. Lee, Daniel B. Mark
Summary: The CABANA trial showed that catheter ablation in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation can significantly improve survival, reduce AF recurrence, and enhance quality of life compared to drug therapy.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ze Jin, Inseok Hwang, Byounghyun Lim, Oh-Seok Kwon, Je-Wook Park, Hee-Tae Yu, Tae-Hoon Kim, Boyoung Joung, Moon-Hyoung Lee, Hui-Nam Pak
Summary: This study investigated the effects of patient genotype on the efficacy of catheter ablation and antiarrhythmic drugs in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The results showed that virtual circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (V-CPVI) based on computational modeling was effective regardless of the patient genotype, while antiarrhythmic drugs exhibited better effects in specific genotype of atrial fibrillation patients.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mariusz Kowalewski, Micha Pasierski, Michalina Koodziejczak, Radoslaw Litwinowicz, Adam Kowalowka, Wojciech Wanha, Andrzej Los, Sebastian Stefaniak, Wojciech Wojakowski, Marek Jemielity, Jan Rogowski, Marek Deja, Krzysztof Bartus, Silvia Mariani, Tong Li, Matteo Matteucci, Daniele Ronco, Giulio Massimi, Federica Jiritano, Paolo Meani, Giuseppe Maria Raffa, Pietro Giorgio Malvindi, Micha Zembala, Roberto Lorusso, James L. Cox, Piotr Suwalski
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the long-term mortality after surgical ablation (SA) concomitant with cardiac surgery.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Rasmus Rivinius, Matthias Helmschrott, Ann-Kathrin Rahm, Fabrice F. Darche, Dierk Thomas, Tom Bruckner, Andreas O. Doesch, Hugo A. Katus, Philipp Ehlermann
Summary: This study investigated the 5-year results of heart rate control with ivabradine or metoprolol succinate in patients after heart transplantation. The results showed that patients receiving ivabradine treatment had better heart rate reduction, left ventricular diastolic function, and 5-year survival.
CLINICAL RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felix Wiedmann, Susanne Rinne, Birgit Donner, Niels Decher, Hugo A. Katus, Constanze Schmidt
Summary: TWIK-related K+ channel (TREK-1) regulates cellular excitability in various cells, responding to different physiological stimuli. It may play a role in mechanoelectrical feedback in the heart and contribute to excitability dysregulation in pathological situations.
PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ann-Kathrin Rahm, Teresa Wieder, Dominik Gramlich, Mara Elena Muller, Maximilian N. Wunsch, Fadwa A. El Tahry, Tanja Heimberger, Tanja Weis, Patrick Most, Hugo A. Katus, Dierk Thomas, Patrick Lugenbiel
Summary: The study revealed that the expression of atrial KCNN2 and KCNN3 is reduced in AF complicated by HF, with a suppression of HDAC2 expression. High atrial rates trigger epigenetic remodeling mechanisms, and knock-down of HDAC2 decreases KCNN3 expression.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ann-Kathrin Rahm, Dominik Gramlich, Teresa Wieder, Mara Elena Mueller, Axel Schoeffel, Fadwa A. El Tahry, Patrick Most, Tanja Heimberger, Steffi Sandke, Tanja Weis, Nina D. Ullrich, Thomas Korff, Patrick Lugenbiel, Hugo A. Katus, Dierk Thomas
Summary: The study investigated the remodeling of K-Ca channels in atrial cells under different triggers such as tachycardia, stretch, beta-adrenergic stimulation, and hypoxia in patients with AF and HF, and in a pig model. The results showed a reduction in KCNN expression in AF/HF patients and pigs, with stressor-specific remodeling of K-Ca channels. This subtype-specific regulation of K-Ca channels may contribute to action potential prolongation in AF complicated by HF, providing a potential target for mechanism-based antiarrhythmic therapy.
PHARMACOGENOMICS & PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Felix Wiedmann, Christoph Beyersdorf, Xiao-Bo Zhou, Manuel Kraft, Amelie Paasche, Natasa Javorszky, Susanne Rinne, Henry Sutanto, Antonius Buscher, Kathrin Foerster, Antje Blank, Ibrahim El-Battrawy, Xin Li, Siegfried Lang, Ursula Tochtermann, Jamila Kremer, Rawa Arif, Matthias Karck, Niels Decher, Gunther van Loon, Ibrahim Akin, Martin Borggrefe, Stefan Kallenberger, Jordi Heijman, Walter E. Haefeli, Hugo A. Katus, Constanze Schmidt
Summary: Pharmacologically suppressing atrial potassium currents can prolong atrial refractoriness without affecting ventricular repolarization, leading to atrial-specific antiarrhythmic effects; The respiratory stimulant doxapram has been successfully used for cardioversion and rhythm control of atrial fibrillation in a clinically relevant porcine model, showing potential as a new antiarrhythmic drug for AF.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Shinwan Kany, Johannes Brachmann, Thorsten Lewalter, Ibrahim Akin, Horst Sievert, Uwe Zeymer, Jakob Ledwoch, Hueseyin Ince, Dierk Thomas, Matthias Hochadel, Jochen Senges, Paulus Kirchhof, Andreas Rillig
Summary: NPAF is associated with higher mortality in patients undergoing LAAC, and compared to PAF, NPAF has more complications after one year.
CLINICAL RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Pascal Syren, Ann-Kathrin Rahm, Patrick A. Schweizer, Claus Bruehl, Hugo A. Katus, Norbert Frey, Dierk Thomas, Patrick Lugenbiel
Summary: The study suggests that the suppression of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) is associated with ventricular electrical remodeling, ion channel expression, and the pathophysiological process of early heart failure.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Fabrice F. Darche, Matthias Helmschrott, Ann-Kathrin Rahm, Dierk Thomas, Patrick A. Schweizer, Tom Bruckner, Philipp Ehlermann, Michael M. Kreusser, Gregor Warnecke, Norbert Frey, Rasmus Rivinius
Summary: Atrial fibrillation before heart transplantation is associated with a higher risk of post-transplant atrial fibrillation, permanent pacemaker implantation, and mortality after transplantation. Patients with atrial fibrillation both before and after transplantation have worse clinical outcomes compared to those without atrial fibrillation.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ann-Kathrin Rahm, Matthias Helmschrott, Fabrice F. Darche, Dierk Thomas, Tom Bruckner, Philipp Ehlermann, Michael M. Kreusser, Gregor Warnecke, Norbert Frey, Rasmus Rivinius
Summary: Newly acquired complete right bundle branch block early after heart transplantation is associated with increased post-transplant mortality and leads to other cardiac functional issues.
Article
Physiology
Ann-Kathrin Rahm, Teresa Wieder, Dominik Gramlich, Mara Elena Mueller, Maximilian N. Wunsch, Fadwa A. El Tahry, Tanja Heimberger, Steffi Sandke, Tanja Weis, Patrick Most, Hugo A. Katus, Dierk Thomas, Patrick Lugenbiel
Summary: The study found that KCNN1 and HDAC expression are differentially remodeled in atrial fibrillation complicated by heart failure, and direct regulation of KCNN1 by HDACs in atrial myocytes provides a basis for mechanism-based antiarrhythmic therapy.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Felix Wiedmann, Norbert Frey, Constanze Schmidt
Summary: K-2P channels play important roles in maintaining resting membrane potential, modulating action potential repolarization, and regulating physiological processes. Dysregulation of K-2P channels in cardiovascular diseases may have therapeutic significance. Channels like K(2P)3.1 (TASK-1) and K(2P)2.1 (TREK-1) are associated with atrial fibrillation and cardiac remodeling, respectively.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Manuel Kraft, Kathrin Foerster, Felix Wiedmann, Max Sauter, Amelie Paasche, Pablo L. Blochberger, Baran Yesilgoez, Yannick L'hoste, Norbert Frey, Walter E. Haefeli, Jurgen Burhenne, Constanze Schmidt
Summary: Doxapram has been investigated as a potential new treatment for atrial fibrillation in a porcine animal model. The pharmacokinetics of doxapram and its active metabolite were studied, revealing a biphasic elimination pattern with a short half-life and high peak concentration.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Felix Wiedmann, Raffaele De Simone, Peter Rose, Matthias Karck, Matthias Gorenflo, Norbert Frey, Constanze Schmidt
Summary: This case report presents a successful implantation of a subcutaneous ICD in a young female patient with dextrocardia and situs solitus, indicating the feasibility of left S-ICD implantation even in the presence of anatomical abnormalities commonly associated with this condition.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CASE REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Larissa Fabritz, Harry J. G. M. Crijns, Eduard Guasch, Andreas Goette, Karl Georg Hausler, Dipak Kotecha, Thorsten Lewalter, Christian Meyer, Tatjana S. Potpara, Michiel Rienstra, Renate B. Schnabel, Stephan Willems, Guenter Breithardt, A. John Camm, Anthony Chan, Winnie Chua, Mirko de Melis, Christina Dimopoulou, Dobromir Dobrev, Christina Easter, Lars Eckardt, Doreen Haase, Stephane Hatem, Jeff S. Healey, Jordi Heijman, Stefan H. Hohnloser, Thomas Huebner, Bushra Saeed Ilyas, Aaron Isaacs, Ingo Kutschka, Christophe Leclercq, Gregory Y. H. Lip, Elena Andreassi Marinelli, Jose L. Merino, Lluis Mont, Michael Nabauer, Jonas Oldgren, Helmut Purerfellner, Ursula Ravens, Irina Savelieva, Moritz F. Sinner, Alice Sitch, Ruediger Smolnik, Jan Steffel, Kenneth Stein, Monika Stoll, Emma Svennberg, Dierk Thomas, Isabelle C. Van Gelder, Burcu Vardar, Reza Wakili, Mattias Wieloch, Stef Zeemering, Paul D. Ziegler, Hein Heidbuchel, Gerhard Hindricks, Ulrich Schotten, Paulus Kirchhof
Summary: This article summarizes the outcomes of the 7th Consensus Conference of the Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), focusing on key issues in AF prevention, management, and future research to improve care for patients with AF and prevent AF-related complications. The discussions among international AF specialists highlighted the importance of understanding dynamic risk profiles in AF patients, utilizing deeply phenotyped datasets for better insights, and proposing new algorithms and strategies for acute management, stroke risk assessment, anticoagulation use, and rhythm control therapy selection. The conclusion emphasizes the need for better characterization of morbidity and mortality in patients with AF, with a focus on addressing AF burden and concomitant conditions for stratified therapy.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Shinwan Kany, Johannes Brachmann, Thorsten Lewalter, Karl-Heinz Kuck, Dietrich Andresen, Stephan Willems, Ellen Hoffmann, Lars Eckardt, Dierk Thomas, Matthias Hochadel, Jochen Senges, Andreas Metzner, Andreas Rillig
Summary: This study analyzed data from the German Ablation Registry and found that repeat catheter ablation procedures have shorter duration and use less fluoroscopy. There were no significant differences in mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events, composite safety endpoint, and arrhythmia recurrence rates between the two groups during a 1-year follow-up.
CLINICAL RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
