Basic research using molecular techniques and animal models improves knowledge of inherited arrhythmogenic syndromes, providing novel markers for risk assessment and a basis for new treatments.
Mutations involving cardiac ion channels result in abnormal action potential formation or propagation, leading to cardiac arrhythmias. Despite the large impact on society of sudden cardiac death resulting from such arrhythmias, understanding of the underlying cellular mechanism is poor and clinical risk stratification and treatment consequently limited. Basic research using molecular techniques, as well as animal models, has proved extremely useful in improving our knowledge of inherited arrhythmogenic syndromes. This offers the practitioner tools to accurately diagnose rare disorders and provides novel markers for risk assessment and a basis for new strategies of treatment.
Martin et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Inherited channelopathy and sudden cardiac death. Basic research using molecular techniques and animal models improves knowledge of inherited arrhythmogenic syndromes, providing novel markers for risk assessment and a basis for new treatments.