Energetic metabolism during acute stretch-related atrial fibrillation.

Background And Methods: Perturbations in energetic metabolism and impaired atrial contractility may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Besides, atrial stretch is commonly associated with AF. However, the atrial energetics of stretch-related AF are poorly understood.

Anti-arrhythmic effects of I (Na), I (Kr), and combined I (Kr)-I (CaL) blockade in an experimental model of acute stretch-related atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial dilatation is commonly associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), but the electrophysiological mechanisms and the implications for anti-arrhythmic therapy are poorly understood. In a model of acute stretch-related AF in isolated rabbit hearts, we evaluated the electrophysiological effects of three different anti-arrhythmic drugs: dofetilide, flecainide and BRL-32872 (associating I (Kr) and I (CaL) blocking properties).

Methods: After 30 min of sustained stretch-related AF, we perfused BRL 10-7 M, BRL 3.

[Pacemaker syndromes].

The pacemaker syndrome refers to symptoms and signs in pacemaker patients caused by inadequate timing of atrial and ventricular contractions. The lack of normal atrioventricular synchrony may result in decreased cardiac output and increased in atrial pressure which elicits a systemic hypotensive reflex response. These hemodynamic disturbances mostly occur in the presence of retrograde VA conduction is present.

[Buerger's disease and coronary disease].

The authors report the case of a 33 year old man with distal occlusive arterial disease diagnosed as Buerger's disease, with two previous transient ischaemic attacks and coronary disease resulting in myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography showed narrowing of the second segment of the left anterior descending artery, occluded distally and not suitable for revascularisation. The observation of coronary artery disease is very rare in Buerger's disease and data of coronary angiography are very sparse in this context.

Predictive factors of ventricular fibrillation triggered by pause-dependent torsades de pointes associated with acquired long QT interval: role of QT dispersion and left ventricular function.

Introduction: Death due to acquired torsades de pointes usually is caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), but the contributing factors to VF triggered by pause-dependent torsades de pointes are not understood.

Methods And Results: We evaluated 91 patients who fulfilled four criteria: (1) pause-dependent torsades de pointes; (2) prolonged QT interval and/or corrected QT (QTc) (>0.44 sec); (3) long-short initiation sequence; and (4) conditions known to induce pause-dependent torsades de pointes.