title: Electrophysiological changes in heart failure and their implications for arrhythmogenesis.
abstract: Heart failure is the final common pathway of various cardiac pathologies and is associated with sudden cardiac death, mostly caused by ventricular arrhythmias. In this paper we briefly review the electrophysiological remodeling and the alterations in intracellular calcium handling, and the resulting arrhythmogenic mechanisms associated with heart failure. Intercellular uncoupling and fibrosis are identified as a major arrhythmogenic factors. Diet and ventricular wall stretch are discussed as modulating factors. Finally, emphasis is placed on the hitherto poorly studied aspects of right ventricular failure. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Heart failure pathogenesis and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Cardiology, Heart Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: rubencoronel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coronel
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilders
authors.forename: Arie O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Verkerk
authors.forename: Rob F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Wiegerinck
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benoist
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bernus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans
keywords: Arrhythmia mechanism; Diet; Heart failure; Intercellular coupling; Pulmonary hypertension; Stretch