Key result
Abnormal impulse initiation and reentry are proposed mechanisms for atrial fibrillation, though it is often unclear whether ectopic activity is based on abnormal impulse formation or conduction.
Discusses the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation, highlighting the role of ectopic activity from pulmonary veins and the uncertainty between abnormal impulse formation versus reentry.
Both abnormal impulse initiation and reentry have been proposed as mechanism for the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). Ectopic activity of the pulmonary veins often is the electrical trigger for AF in patients with paroxysmal AF. A high impulse frequency of the ectopic focus may give rise to irregular, fibrillatory conduction, which leads to the freakish electrical pattern of AF. It is, however, often unclear whether the ectopic activity is based on abnormal impulse formation or abnormal conduction (reentry)
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Bakker et al. (2015) conducted a review in Atrial fibrillation. Abnormal impulse initiation and reentry are proposed mechanisms for atrial fibrillation, though it is often unclear whether ectopic activity is based on abnormal impulse formation or conduction.
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