title: Effects of renal sympathetic denervation on the atrial electrophysiology in dogs with pacing-induced heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are associated with sympathetic activation. Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) can suppress AF vulnerability. The impact of RSD on atrial electrophysiology in experimental HF is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two beagles were randomized into control, HF, and HF + RSD groups. Control dogs were implanted cardiac pacemakers without pacing. Dogs in the HF group underwent right ventricular pacing for 3 weeks at 240 beats/min to induce HF. The dogs in the HF + RSD group received RSD and underwent the same HF-inducing procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The P-wave dispersion was higher in HF dogs than in the control and HF + RSD dogs (19 ± 3.1 ms vs 13 ± 2.3 ms, 15 ± 2.9 ms, P = 0.04). Conduction time within the interatrium was significantly longer in the HF dogs than that in the control and HF + RSD dogs (39 ± 4 ms vs 31 ± 3 ms, 33 ± 4 ms; P = 0.03). Window of vulnerability (WOV) of AF was widened in the HF dogs than in the HF + RSD dogs (37 ± 5 ms vs 14 ± 3 ms; P < 0.01), while AF could not be induced (WOV = 0) in the control dogs during S1 S2 stimulation. The voltage in the threshold for AF inducibility was lower during ganglionated plexi stimulation in the HF dogs than in the control and HF + RSD dogs (1.8 ± 0.6 V vs 2.5 ± 0.6 V, 2.4 ± 0.4 V; P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RSD could reverse the atrial electrical remodeling and decrease AF inducibility in dogs with pacing-induced HF.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuchang, Wuhan City, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaozhan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qingyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hongping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xule
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zongwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zixuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Jinping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Peixing
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Congxin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology; D064752:Atrial Remodeling; D004285:Dogs; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D013562:Sympathectomy
keywords: atrial fibrillation; electrophysiology; heart failure; renal sympathetic denervation