JOURNAL ARTICLE
REVIEW
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Recurrent intradialytic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: hypotheses on onset mechanisms based on clinical data and computational analysis.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence is high in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, and haemodialysis (HD) session may induce paroxysmal AF episodes. Structural atrium remodelling is common in ESRD patients, moreover, HD session induces rapid plasma electrolytes and blood volume changes, possibly favouring arrhythmia onset. Therefore, HD session represents a unique model to study in vivo the mechanisms potentially inducing paroxysmal AF episodes. Here, we present the case report of a patient in which HD regularly induced paroxysmal AF. In four consecutive sessions, heart rate variability analysis showed a progressive reduction of low/high frequency ratio before the AF onset, suggesting a relative increase in vagal activity. Moreover, all AF episodes were preceded by a great increase of supraventricular ectopic beats. We applied computational modelling of cardiac cellular electrophysiology to these clinical findings, using plasma electrolyte concentrations and heart rate to simulate patient conditions at the beginning of HD session (pre-HD) and right before the AF onset (pre-AF), in a human atrial action potential model. Simulation results provided evidence of a slower depolarization and a shortened refractory period in pre-AF vs. pre-HD, and these effects were enhanced when adding acetylcholine effect. Paroxysmal AF episodes are induced by the presence of a trigger that acts upon a favourable substrate on the background of autonomic nervous system changes and in the described case report all these three elements were present. Starting from these findings, here we review the possible mechanisms leading to intradialytic AF onset.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app