We read the article entitled ‘Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients: P wave duration and dispersion analysis’ with great interest1. In this research, they revealed that P wave dispersion (PWD) was significantly increased in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD) compared to control subjects. MD is a genetic disorder affecting both the heart muscles and the c...

BACKGROUND Patients receiving oral anticoagulation in addition to dual-antiplatelet therapy are known to be at high risk for bleeding events; thus, the selection of a drug-eluting stent (DES) versus a bare metal stent (BMS) can have important implications for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) presenting with acute myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS AND RESULTS From the National Cardiova...

BACKGROUND Postoperative atrial fibrillation remains a common cause of morbidity. Although epicardial drug delivery can increase efficacy and reduce side effects, it is impractical for postoperative atrial fibrillation because pericardial bleeding/effusion and drainage cause rapid drug elimination. Fibrin glue sprayed on the epicardium is vigorously adherent, allowing an admixed drug to remain ...

BACKGROUND Idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy is a poorly recognized entity of unknown cause characterized by nondilated, nonhypertrophied ventricles with diastolic dysfunction resulting in dilated atria and variable systolic function. METHODS AND RESULTS Between 1979 and 1996, 94 patients (61% women) 10 to 90 years old (mean, 64 years) met strict morphological echocardiographic criteria f...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia seen in clinical practice. The understanding of the pathophysiology of AF has changed drastically during the last several decades. Recent observations have challenged the concept of the multiple circuit reentry model in favor of single focus or single circuit reentry models. Atrial electrical dysfunction provides a favorable substra...

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main source(s): This work was supported by the Netherlands Heart Foundation (CVON2014-09, RACE V Reappraisal Atrial Fibrillation: Interaction between hyperCoagulability, Electrical remodelling, and Vascular Destabilisation in Progression AF), European Union (ITN Network Personalized Therapies for a translat...

BACKGROUND Cardiac parasympathetic nerves run alongside the superior vena cava (SVC) and accumulate particularly epicardially adjacent to the orifice of the coronary sinus (CS). In animals, these nerves can be electrically stimulated inside the SVC or CS, which results in negative chronotropic/dromotropic effects and negative inotropic effects in the atria but not the ventricles. Parasympatheti...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the myocardial consequences of a chronic volume overload of the left atrium (LA). BACKGROUND Atrial dilation is a major risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. METHODS A left-right aorto-pulmonary artery shunt (APS) was created in sheep. The cardiopathy was characterized by echocardiograp...

The role of I(KCa) in cardiac repolarization remains controversial and varies across species. The relevance of the current as a therapeutic target is therefore undefined. We examined the cellular electrophysiologic effects of I(KCa) blockade in controls, chronic heart failure (HF) and HF with sustained atrial fibrillation. We used perforated patch action potential recordings to maintain intrins...

RATIONALE Data on nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant being used for the treatment of LAA thrombi are limited only in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. There are no data on the antithrombotic efficacy and safety of nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant in the resolution of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. PATIENT CONCERNS A 49-year-old...