title: Atrial fibrillation: a progressive atrial myopathy or a distinct disease?
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is a complex arrhythmia with multiple possible mechanisms. A lot of experimental and clinical studies have shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms of arrhythmia, especially on molecular basis. Electrical, contractile and structural remodeling, calcium handling abnormalities, autonomic imbalance and genetic factors seem to play a crucial role in atrial fibrillation initiation and maintenance. However, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms of atrial fibrillation are not completely understood and whether atrial fibrillation is an unclassified cardiomyopathy or a distinct disease still remains to be answered. This review highlights proarrhythmic and pathophysiological mechanisms of atrial fibrillation and approaches the molecular basis underlying atrial fibrillation susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Electronic address: ekallergis@med.uoc.gr.
authors.forename: Eleftherios M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kallergis
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Goudis
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Panos E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Vardas
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016275:Atrial Function / Q000502:physiology*; D064752:Atrial Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Atrial fibrosis; Cardiomyopathy; Myopathy; Remodeling