Key result
Targeted reduction of atrial and pulmonary vein stretch emerges as a proposed strategy to prevent AF.
Why the study?
Risk factors for AF increase atrial wall stretch, which has proarrhythmic effects, making local reduction of atrial stretch a potential therapeutic target.
Does targeted atrial stretch reduction prevent atrial fibrillation in patients with or at risk for the arrhythmia?
Does targeted atrial stretch reduction prevent atrial fibrillation in patients with or at risk for the arrhythmia?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Reducing local atrial stretch is proposed as an essential therapeutic target for rhythm control and prevention of atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that is associated with increased mortality. Heart failure, hypertension, valvular disease, and obstructive sleep apnea are risk factors for incident AF. A common characteristic of these diseases is that they increase atrial wall stretch. Multiple experimental studies confirm a proarrhythmic effect of atrial stretch. Conversely, a reduction in stretch is antiarrhythmic. A therapeutic target for AF, therefore, lies in local reduction of atrial stretch. This review focuses on atrial stretch and its clinical associations in patients with AF and its downstream effects on electrophysiology. We discuss the possible application of targeted atrial stretch reduction in AF prevention. We conclude that a reduction in local atrial stretch should be considered an essential element in rhythm control.
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Gottlieb et al. (2022) conducted a review in Atrial fibrillation. Atrial and pulmonary vein stretch reduction was evaluated. Targeted reduction and homogenization of atrial and pulmonary vein stretch is proposed as an essential therapeutic strategy to improve rhythm control and prevent atrial fibrillation.
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