title: Mechanisms of new-onset atrial fibrillation complicating acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmia complications of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The incidence of new-onset AF is 2.3-37 %, and it is an important predictor of a patient's morbidity, mortality, and prolonged hospitalization. Various risk factors for the development of new-onset AF after ACS have been identified, including: old age, higher Killip class, relevant history (e.g., hypertension), and enlarged left atrium. Insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of new-onset AF have been provided by both experimental and clinical investigations and show that new-onset AF is multifactorial, involving atrial ischemia and atrial stretch, inflammation, autonomic nervous system activity, and hormone activation. An understanding of the mechanisms underlying new-onset AF complicating ACS can provide new insight of therapeutic importance.
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Intensive Care Center, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Y-M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*