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Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology2020; 31(5); 1211-1212; doi: 10.1111/jce.14422

Pulmonary vein firing initiating atrial fibrillation in the horse: Oversized dimensions but similar mechanisms.

Abstract: Atrial fibrillation is triggered by the pulmonary veins in humans. Although atrial fibrillation is known to occur in other species, the mechanisms of disease in these are not known. Here we present evidence for pulmonary vein triggers in the horse, where 3D HD Grid mapping was undertaken in the conscious state in the absence of fluoroscopy.
© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Publication Date: 2020-03-05 PubMed ID: 32108401DOI: 10.1111/jce.14422Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores how atrial fibrillation, a heart condition, is initiated by pulmonary veins in horses, using 3D HD Grid mapping. Despite the larger physical dimensions of horses, the disease mechanisms were found to be similar to humans.

Study Objective

  • The objective of this investigation was to study the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses, and trace its initiation in the heart, particularly in the pulmonary veins. The research sought to establish if the disease mechanisms are the same as in humans.

Methodology

  • For this study, tools applied included 3D HD Grid mapping. It is a technique which details the electrical signals in the heart, enabling the visualisation and identification of irregular rhythms.
  • The method was carried out when the horses were conscious and did not rely on fluoroscopy, a medical imaging technique which uses X-rays to obtain real-time moving images of internal structures of the horse.

Key findings

  • Results from the study showed that, just like in humans, atrial fibrillation in horses can be triggered by the pulmonary veins. This confirms that the disease operates on mechanisms similar to those seen in human beings.
  • The study also established that these findings hold true even when the organism in question has significantly larger dimensions, such as is the case with horses.

Conclusion

  • The research confirmed that atrial fibrillation in horses can be triggered by the pulmonary veins, despite the larger physical dimensions of a horse. The study insights into the mechanistic similarity of atrial fibrillation occurrence in different species could guide towards more effective targeted treatment strategies that are broadly applicable across different species.

Cite This Article

APA
Linz D, Hesselkilde E, Kutieleh R, Jespersen T, Buhl R, Sanders P. (2020). Pulmonary vein firing initiating atrial fibrillation in the horse: Oversized dimensions but similar mechanisms. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, 31(5), 1211-1212. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.14422

Publication

Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
ISSN: 1540-8167
NlmUniqueID: 9010756
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 31
Issue: 5
Pages: 1211-1212

Researcher Affiliations

Linz, Dominik
  • Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
Hesselkilde, Eva
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kutieleh, Rayed
  • Abbott Medical, Australia.
Jespersen, Thomas
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Buhl, Rikke
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
Sanders, Prashanthan
  • Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Action Potentials
  • Animals
  • Atrial Fibrillation / diagnosis
  • Atrial Fibrillation / physiopathology
  • Atrial Fibrillation / veterinary
  • Conscious Sedation / veterinary
  • Electrocardiography / veterinary
  • Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / veterinary
  • Heart Rate
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Pulmonary Veins / physiopathology
  • Standing Position

References

This article includes 5 references
  1. Haissaguerre M, Jais P, Shah DC. Spontaneous initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating in the pulmonary veins. N Engl J Med 1998;339:659-666.
  2. Haïssaguerre M, Sanders P, Hocini M, Jaïs P, Clémenty J. Pulmonary veins in the substrate for atrial fibrillation: the “venous wave” hypothesis. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;43:2290-2292.
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Citations

This article has been cited 17 times.
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  12. Nissen SD, Weis R, Krag-Andersen EK, Hesselkilde EM, Isaksen JL, Carstensen H, Kanters JK, Linz D, Sanders P, Hopster-Iversen C, Jespersen T, Pehrson S, Buhl R. Electrocardiographic characteristics of trained and untrained standardbred racehorses. J Vet Intern Med 2022 May;36(3):1119-1130.
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