Atrial electrophysiological remodeling caused by rapid atrial activation: Underlying mechanisms and clinical relevance to atrial fibrillation

Cardiovascular Research

Volumn 42, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 298-308

  Nattel, Stanley ^a  

^a MONTREAL HEART INSTITUTE   (Canada)

Author keywords

Action potential; Antiarrhythmic drugs; Atrial fibrillation; Electrocardiogram; Electrophysiological remodeling; Electrophysiology of human heart; Ion channels

Indexed keywords

CALCIUM; ION CHANNEL; MESSENGER RNA; QUINIDINE;

ARRHYTHMOGENESIS; CALCIUM CURRENT; CARDIOVERSION; CELL ULTRASTRUCTURE; DOWN REGULATION; GENE EXPRESSION; HEART ATRIUM CONDUCTION; HEART ATRIUM CONTRACTILITY; HEART ATRIUM FIBRILLATION; HEART ATRIUM PACEMAKER; HEART ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY; HEART MUSCLE CELL; HEART MUSCLE POTENTIAL; HUMAN; NONHUMAN; PAROXYSMAL SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA;

ACTION POTENTIALS; ANIMALS; ATRIAL FIBRILLATION; CALCIUM; CARDIAC PACING, ARTIFICIAL; ELECTRIC COUNTERSHOCK; ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY; ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY; GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION; HUMANS; ION CHANNELS; ION TRANSPORT; MYOCARDIUM; SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION; TIME FACTORS;

EID: 0032979436     PISSN: 00086363     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/S0008-6363(99)00022-X     Document Type: Review

References (72)

1. Wijffels M.C.E.F., Kirchhof C.J.H.J., Dorland R., Allessie M.A. Atrial fibrillation begets atrial fibrillation: a study in awake chronically instrumented goats. Circulation. 92:1995;1954-1968.
2. Viko L.E., Marvin H.M., White P.D. A clinical report on the use of quinidin sulphate. Arch Int Med. 31:1923;345-363.
3. Parkinson J., Campbell M. The quinidine treatment of auricular fibrillation. Q J Med. 22:1929;281-303.
4. Sanfilippo A.J., Abascal V.M., Sheehan M., et al. Atrial enlargement as a consequence of atrial fibrillation. A prospective echocardiographic study. Circulation. 82:1990;792-797.
5. Salmon D.R., McPherson D.D., Augustine D.E., Holida M.D., White C.W. A canine model of chronic atrial fibrillation: echocardiographic and electrocardiographic validation (abstract). Circulation. 72:1985;III-250.
6. Morillo C.A., Klein G.J., Jones D.L., Guiraudon C.M. Chronic rapid atrial pacing: structural, functional, and electrophysiological characteristics of a new model of sustained atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 91:1995;1588-1595.
7. Wijffels M.C., Kirchhof C.J., Dorland R., Power J., Allessie M.A. Electrical remodeling due to atrial fibrillation in chronically instrumented conscious goats: role of neurohumoral changes, ischemia, atrial stretch, and high rate of electrical activation. Circulation. 96:1997;3710-3720.
8. Elvan A., Wylie K., Zipes D.P. Pacing-induced chronic atrial fibrillation impairs sinus node function in dogs: electrophysiological remodeling. Circulation. 94:1996;2953-2960.
9. Gaspo R., Bosch R.F., Talajic M., Nattel S. Functional mechanisms underlying tachycardia-induced sustained atrial fibrillation in a chronic dog model. Circulation. 96:1997;4027-4035.
10. Daoud E.G., Bogun F., Goyal R., et al. Effect of atrial fibrillation on atrial refractoriness in humans. Circulation. 94:1996;1600-1606.
11. Rensma P.L., Allessie M.A., Lammers W.J.E.P., Bonke F.I.M., Schalij M.J. Length of excitation wave and susceptibility to reentrant atrial arrhythmias in normal conscious dogs. Circ Res. 62:1988;395-410.
12. Wang Z., Pagé P., Nattel S. The mechanism of flecainide's antiarrhythmic action in experimental atrial fibrillation. Circ Res. 71:1992;271-287.
13. Nattel S., Bourne G., Talajic M. Insights into mechanisms of antiarrhythmic drug action from experimental models of atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 8:1997;469-480.
14. Attuel P., Childers R., Cauchemez B., Poveda J., Mugica J., Coumel P. Failure in the rate adaptation of the atrial refractory period: its relationship to vulnerability. Intern J Cardiol. 2:1982;179-197.
15. Boutjdir M., Le Heuzey J.Y., Lavergne T., et al. Inhomogeneity of cellular refractoriness in human atrium: factor of arrhythmia? Pace Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 9:1986;1095-1100.
16. Wang J., Liu L., Feng J., Nattel S. Regional and functional factors determining induction and maintenance of atrial fibrillation in dogs. Am J Physiol. 271:(Heart Circ Physiol 40):1996;H148-H158.
17. Villemaire C., Talajic M., Nattel S. Mechanisms by which sotalol prevents atrial fibrillation at doses that fail to terminate the arrhythmia (abstract). Circulation. 96:1997;I-236.
18. Bennett M.A., Pentecost B.L. The pattern of onset and spontaneous cessation of atrial fibrillation in man. Circulation. 41:1970;981-988.
19. Moe G.K., Rheinboldt W.C., Abildskov J.A. A computer model of atrial fibrillation. Am Heart J. 67:1964;200-220.
20. Abildskov J.A. Induced termination of fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 7:1996;71-81.
21. Liu L., Nattel S. Differing sympathetic and vagal effects on atrial fibrillation in dogs: role of refractoriness heterogeneity. Am J Physiol. 273:(Heart Circ Physiol 42):1997;H805-H816.
22. Fareh S., Villemaire C., Nattel S. Importance of refractoriness heterogeneity in the enhanced vulnerability to atrial fibrillation induction caused by tachycardia-induced atrial electrical remodeling. Circulation. 83:1998;2202-2209.
23. Ramdat Misier A.R., Opthof T., Hemel van N.M., et al. Increased dispersion of 'refractoriness' in patients with idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 19:1992;1531-1535.
24. Yue L., Feng J., Gaspo R., Li G.R., Wang Z., Nattel S. Ionic remodeling underlying action potential changes in a canine model of atrial fibrillation. Circ Res. 81:1997;512-525.
25. + current densities and Kv1.5 expression are reduced in chronic human atrial fibrillation. Circ Res. 80:1997;772-781.
26. van Wagoner D.R., Lamorgese M., Kirian P., et al. Calcium current density is reduced in atrial myocytes isolated from patients in chronic atrial fibrillation (abstract). Circulation. 96:1997;I-180.
27. + current in a chronic dog model of atrial fibrillation. Circ Res. 97:1997;1045-1052.
28. Elvan A., Huang X.D., Pressler M.L., Zipes D.P. Radiofrequency catheter ablation of the atria eliminates pacing-induced sustained atrial fibrillation and reduces connexin 43 in dogs. Circulation. 96:1997;1675-1685.
29. van der Velden H.M.W., van Kempen M.J.A., Wijffels M.C.E.F., et al. Altered pattern of connexin40 distribution in persistent atrial fibrillation in the goat. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 9:1998;596-607.
30. Ausma J., Wijffels M., Thoné F., Wouters L., Allessie M., Borgers M. Structural changes of atrial myocardium due to sustained atrial fibrillation in the goat. Circulation. 96:1997;3157-3163.
31. Sun H., Gaspo R., Leblanc N., Nattel S. The cellular mechanisms of atrial contractile dysfunction caused by sustained atrial tachycardia. Circulation. 98:1998;719-727.
32. Goette A., Honeycutt C., Langberg J.L. Electrical remodeling in atrial fibrillation: time course and mechanisms. Circulation. 94:1996;2968-2974.
33. Daoud E.G., Knight B.P., Weiss R., et al. Effect of verapamil and procainamide on atrial fibrillation-induced electrical remodeling in humans. Circulation. 96:1997;1542-1550.
34. Yu W.C., Chen S.A., Lee S.H., et al. Tachycardia-induced change of atrial refractory period in humans: rate-dependency and effects of antiarrhythmic drugs. Circulation. 97:1998;2331-2337.
35. Leistad E., Aksnes G., Verburg E., Christensen G. Atrial contractile dysfunction after short-term atrial fibrillation is reduced by verapamil but increased by Bay K8644. Circulation. 93:1996;1747-1754.
36. Tieleman R.G., De Langen C.D.J., Van Gelder I.C., et al. Verapamil reduces tachycardia-induced electrical remodeling of the atria. Circulation. 95:1997;1945-1953.
37. Fareh S., Thibault B., Nattel S. Treatment with a T-type calcium channel blocker prevents atrial fibrillation caused by tachycardia-induced atrial remodeling (abstract). Circulation. 98:1998;I-210.
38. + exchanger with HOE642 (abstract). Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 21:(Part II):1998;830.
39. Yue L., Wang Z., Gaspo R., Nattel S. The molecular mechanism of ionic remodeling of repolarization in a dog model of atrial fibrillation (abstract). Circulation. 96:1997;I-180.
40. Carmeliet E. Repolarisation and frequency in cardiac cells. J Physiol (Lond). 73:1977;903-923.
41. Boyett M.R., Jewell B.R. Analysis of the effects of changes in rate and rhythm upon electrical activity in the heart. Prog Biophys Molec Biol. 36:1980;1-52.
42. 2+ current at physiologic temperatures relevant to the action potential in human atrial myocytes. Am J Physiol. 272:(Heart Circ Physiol 41):1997;H227-H235.
43. Courtemanche M., Ramirez R.F., Nattel S. Ionic mechanisms underlying human atrial action potential properties: insights from a mathematical model. Am J Physiol. 275:(Heart Circ Physiol 44):1998;H301-H321.
44. Franz M.R., Karasik P.L., Li C., Moubarak J., Chavez M. Electrical remodeling of the human atrium: similar effects in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. J Am Coll Cardiol. 30:1997;1785-1792.
45. Crijns H.J.G.M., van Wijk L.M., van Gilst W.H., Kingma J.H., van Gelder I.C., Lie K.I. Acute conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm: clinical efficacy of flecainide acetate. Comparison of two regimens. Eur Heart J. 9:1988;634-638.
46. Kochiadakis G.E., Igoumenidis N.E., Solomou M.C., et al. Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm using acute intravenous procainamide infusion. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 12:1998;75-81.
47. Reisinger J., Gatterer E., Heinze G., et al. Prospective comparison of flecainide versus sotalol for immediate cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol. 81:1998;1450-1454.
48. Van Gelder I.C., Crijns H.J., Van Gilst W.H., Verwer R., Lie K.I. Prediction of uneventful cardioversion and maintenance of sinus rhythm from direct-current electrical cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation and flutter. Am J Cardiol. 68:1991;41-46.
49. Garratt C., Dorland R., Duytschaever M., Killian M., Mast F., Allessie M.A. The lower success rate of pharmacological cardioversion of atrial fibrillation of longer duration is due to atrial remodeling (abstract). Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 20:(Part II):1997;1154.
50. Allessie M.A., Wijffels M.C.E.F., Dorland R. Mechanisms of pharmacologic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation by class I drugs. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 9:1998;S69-S77.
51. Tieleman R.G., Van Gelder I., Crijns H.J.G.M., et al. Early recurrences of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion: a result of fibrillation-induced electrical remodeling of the atria? J Am Coll Cardiol. 31:1998;167-173.
52. Courtemanche M., Ramirez R., Nattel S. Ionic targets for drug therapy and AF-induced electrical remodeling: insights from a human atrial action potential model (abstract). Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 21:(Part II):1998;899.
53. Kinch J.W., Davidoff R. Prevention of embolic events after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Arch Intern Med. 155:1995;1353-1360.
54. Timmermans C., Wellens H.J.J. Effect of device-mediated therapy on symptomatic episodes of atrial fibrillation (abstract). J Am Coll Cardiol. 31:(Suppl A):1998;331A.
55. Rowlands D.J., Logan W.F.W.E., Howitt G. Atrial function after cardioversion. Am Heart J. 74:1967;149-160.
56. Lipkin D.P., Frenneaux M., Stewart R., Joshi J., Lowe T., McKenna W.J. Delayed improvement in exercise capacity after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm. Br Heart J. 59:1988;572-577.
57. Fatkin D., Kuchar D.L., Thorburn C.W., Feneley M.P. Transesophageal echocardiography before and during direct current cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: evidence for 'atrial stunning' as a mechanism of thromboembolic complications. J Am Coll Cardiol. 23:1994;307-316.
58. Black I.W., Fatkin D., Sagar K.B., et al. Exclusion of atrial thrombus by transesophageal echocardiography does not preclude embolism after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. A multicenter study. Circulation. 89:1994;2509-2513.
59. Abascal V.M., Dubrey S., Ochoa M.R., Davidoff R., Falk R.H. Electrical vs. pharmacologic cardioversion in atrial fibrillation: does the atrium really care? (abstract). Circulation. 92:1995;I-591.
60. Jovic A., Troskot R. Recovery of atrial systolic function after pharmacological conversion of chronic atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm: a Doppler echocardiographic study. Heart. 77:1997;46-49.
61. Dodds G.A., Wilkinson W.E., Greenfield R.A., Natale A., Kisslo J., Pritchett E. Transthoracic cardioversion does not affect atrial mechanical function (abstract). Circulation. 92:1995;I-591.
62. Leistad E., Christensen G., Ilebekk A. Effects of atrial fibrillation on left and right atrial dimensions, pressures, and compliances. Am J Physiol. 264:(Heart Circ Physiol 33):1993;H1093-H1097.
63. Grimm R.A., Stewart W.J., Arheart K.L., Thomas J.D., Klein A.L. Left atrial appendage 'stunning' after electrical cardioversion of atrial flutter: an attenuated response compared with atrial fibrillation as the mechanism for lower susceptibility to thromboembolic events. J Am Coll Cardiol. 29:1997;582-589.
64. Brundel B.J., Van Gelder I.C., Henning R.H. Decreased mRNA levels of L-type calcium channel and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation without valvular heart disease but no changes in patients with paroxysmal AF (abstract). Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 21:1998;815.
65. Li D., Leung T.K., Nattel S. Mechanisms of atrial fibrillation in dogs with congestive heart failure: electrical remodeling of a different sort (abstract). Circulation. 98:1998;I-209.
66. Li D., Feng J., Nattel S. Remodeling of atrial cellular and ionic electrophysiology by congestive heart failure (abstract). Circulation. 98:1998;I-333.
67. Boyden P.A., Tilley L.P., Albala A., Liu S-K., Fenoglio J.J. Jr., Wit A.L. Mechanisms for atrial arrhythmias associated with cardiomyopathy: a study of feline hearts with primary myocardial disease. Circulation. 69:1984;1036-1047.
68. Boyden P.A., Tilley L.P., Pham T.D., Liu S-K., Fenoglio J.J. Jr., Wit A.L. Effects of left atrial enlargement on atrial transmembrane potentials and structure in dogs with mitral valve fibrosis. Am J Cardiol. 49:1982;1896-1908.
69. Thiedemann K.U., Ferrans V.J. Left atrial ultrastructure in mitral valvular disease. Am J Pathol. 89:1977;575-604.
70. Pham T.D., Fenoglio J.J. Jr. Right atrial ultrastructure in chronic rheumatic heart disease. Int J Cardiol. 1:1982;289-304.
71. Lev M., McMillan J.B. Aging changes in the heart. Bourne G.H. Structural aspects of aging. 1961;325-349 Pitman Medical, London.
72. Haissaguerre M., Jais P., Shah D.C., et al. Spontaneous initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating in the pulmonary veins. New Engl J Med. 339:1998;659-666.