title: Mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias: focus on atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cause of morbidity in the aging population. Initially preponderant in men over age 60, it ultimately becomes a disease of women, in part perhaps because of their greater longevity. The subject of AF is an extremely complex one, as described in this article. The author deals with atrial size and atrial pressure, atrial structure, and electrophysiologic correlates of chronic AF in human subjects. He also discusses pacing-induced models of AF and ionic determinants of pacing-induced AF. He emphasizes the changes that occur in the atrium as a result of rapid rate and/or fibrillation and the interdependence of AF and changes in myocardial structure.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016275:Atrial Function; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens