A combined preclinical model of atrial fibrillation and severe heart failure exhibits more severe ultrastructural cardiac changes than models of either condition alone, providing a platform for future pathophysiological and therapeutic research.
The combined entity of atrial fibrillation and severe congestive heart failure leads to multiple organ dysfunction, ultrastructural and microscopic cardiac changes. Cellular hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis are more prominent in this combined entity than previously reported models of lone atrial fibrillation or heart failure. This model can be used for further investigation into the pathophysiology and treatment of atrial fibrillation and advanced heart failure.
Alexander Bauer (Mon,) studied this question.