Evaluating Serum Heat Shock Protein Levels as Novel Biomarkers for Atrial Fibrillation.

Staging of atrial fibrillation (AF) is essential to understanding disease progression and the accompanied increase in therapy failure. Blood-based heat shock protein (HSP) levels may enable staging of AF and the identification of patients with higher risk for AF recurrence after treatment. This study evaluates the relationship between serum HSP levels, presence of AF, AF stage and AF recurrence following electrocardioversion (ECV) or pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Daily Supplementation of L-Glutamine in Atrial Fibrillation Patients: The Effect on Heat Shock Proteins and Metabolites.

Pharmaco-therapeutic strategies of atrial fibrillation (AF) are moderately effective and do not prevent AF onset and progression. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapies. Previous studies revealed heat shock protein (HSP)-inducing compounds to mitigate AF onset and progression.

Ventricular Dysrhythmias During Long-Term Follow-Up in Patients With Inherited Cardiac Arrhythmia.

Reports on development of frequent ventricular premature complexes (fVPC), (non)sustained ventricular tachycardias ([n]sVT), or ventricular fibrillation (VF) and their interrelationship in patients with different inherited cardiac arrhythmia (ICA) have sofar not been reported. The aim of this study is therefore to examine incidences and recurrences rates of sVT and VF ("malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias, VTA") in addition to the incidence of fVPC and nsVT ("ventricular dysrhythmias, VDR") in patients with various ICA during long-term follow up. Patients (N = 167, 88 male, age 45 ± 15 years) with ICA including definite/borderline arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC, N = 47), Brugada syndrome (BrS, N = 71), catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT, N = 7), long QT syndrome (LQTS, N = 41) or short QT syndrome (SQTS, N = 1) who had frequent 24-hour Holter monitoring during a follow-up period of 4.

QRS Vector Magnitude as Predictor of Ventricular Arrhythmia in Patients With Brugada Syndrome.

Risk stratification is the most challenging part in management of patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS). Conduction delay in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is the major mechanism underlying ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA) in BrS. However, QRS duration was not useful in stratifying high-risk patients in large registries.

Prediction of ventricular tachyarrhythmia in Brugada syndrome by right ventricular outflow tract conduction delay signs.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an autosomal dominant disease responsible for sudden cardiac death in young individuals without structural anomalies. The most critical part in the management of this channelopathy is identification of high-risk patients, especially asymptomatic subjects. Prior studies have shown that conduction delay in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is the main mechanism for developing ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA) in BrS patients.

Impact of Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmia in Patients With Inherited Cardiac Arrhythmia.

Supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT), especially atrial fibrillation (AF), has been observed in patients with inherited cardiac arrhythmia (ICA). Data on the time course of SVT and the occurrence of SVT other than AF is limited. In this study, we examined the prevalence, co-existence, and the time course of different types of SVT in patients with various ICAs.

Usefulness of the R-Wave Sign as a Predictor for Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia in Patients With Brugada Syndrome.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an autosomal dominant channelopathy which is responsible for a large number of sudden cardiac deaths in young subjects without structural abnormalities. The most challenging step in management of patients with BrS is identifying who is at risk for developing malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA). In patients with BrS, conduction delay in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) causes a prominent R wave in lead aVR.

The presence of contractile reserve has no predictive value for the evolution of left ventricular function following atrio-ventricular node ablation in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Transcatheter ablation of the atrio-ventricular (AV) node followed by ventricular pacing has been shown to improve symptoms and quality of life (QOL) of patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF). In a considerable number of patients, cardiac function deteriorates after AV node ablation. We aimed to determine whether the absence of contractile reserve assessed by low dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (LDDSE) could identify those patients whose left ventricular (LV) function deteriorates after AV node ablation.