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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia seen in clinical practice. The understanding of the pathophysiology of AF has changed drastically during the last several decades. Recent observations have challenged the concept of the multiple circuit reentry model in favor of single focus or single circuit reentry models. Atrial elec...
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... Because of novel surgical techniques and both difficulties in managing medication, such as coumadin levels in minimizing risk for major bleeding, as well as misconceptions that lead to limited utilization in clinical practice, surgical treatments are increasingly important in the management of AF [24]. The use of anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) to treat AF has declined in clinical practice due to proarrhythmic side effects, lack of adequate control, and the need for lifelong drug use [25]. ...
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia associated with substantial increases in death, heart failure, and stroke. It is important for healthcare providers in all fields to also gain an understanding of the novel techniques used in surgical treatment of AF. Clinicians must now decide between many different options. There are modified Maze procedures, catheter-based or minimally invasive surgical approaches to isolate the triggers and foci in the left atrium responsible for AF. A recently proposed radial approach can also be employed in substitution of the traditional geographical maze surgery. Finally, different energy sources, such as cryoablation, radiofrequency, microwave, and laser, can be used to create lesions in the atrium. Especially in the fields of neurology, psychiatry, and psychology, an understanding of these treatments is important for the management of AF patients with neurological pathology.
Inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. C-reactive protein, a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation, has recently been reported to be significantly higher in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with a control group with no history of atrial arrhythmia. Elevated C-reactive protein levels in patients with AF reflects an underlying inflammatory process. Histological anomalies in the atria of patients with AF have also been observed. These anomalies may have an inflammatory basis, although it is not known if any structural changes within the atria are a cause or a consequence of the arrhythmia. Ongoing chronic infection(s) has been suggested as a possible cause of the inflammatory process demonstrated in patients with AF. Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium more commonly known for infecting the gastric mucosa and causing peptic ulcers, is a noncardiac factor that has been controversially reported to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. This article gives a brief overview of AF and specifically explores the recent evidence that suggests that Helicobacter pylori infection causes AF.
