Early atrial fibrillation induces concurrent electrical and contractile remodeling, potentially mediated by reduced L-type calcium current.
Depending on the duration of AF, different mechanisms contribute to the AF-induced atrial hypocontractility. Atrial contractile remodeling during several days of AF goes hand in hand with electrical remodeling and might be caused by a reduction of the L-type Ca2+-current.
Schotten et al. (Tue,) studied this question.