The role of alternans in generating atrial fibrillation in heart failure: A mechanistic study to understand the importance of remodelled Ca handling
BHF-funded researchers in Manchester are investigating what underlies the link between heart failure and atrial fibrillation. People with heart failure often develop a common heart rhythm problem, called atrial fibrillation, which significantly increases the risk of stroke. There are few treatments available for atrial fibrillation for people with heart failure, so it’s important that more research is done to help us prevent or combat atrial fibrillation in heart failure. The aim of this project is to understand why atrial fibrillation starts in patients with heart failure. A heartbeat is generated by ions such as calcium, moving into and out of heart cells triggering the cell to contract. This electrical activity can be measured with an electrocardiogram. Scientists have observed that the electrical activity of the heart has an alternating pattern just before atrial fibrillation occurs. Dr Dibb and colleagues have found that it is much easier for hearts (and cells) with heart failure to produce this alternating pattern compared to healthy hearts, and this could be due to changes in the way calcium is controlled inside the cells. In this study, they will investigate whether altered calcium control is the reason that failing hearts are susceptible to the alternating pattern and atrial fibrillation. If so, inventing medicines that correct this calcium control could be an effective way to prevent this dangerous condition in people living with heart failure.
Project details
| Grant amount | £249,578 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 07 October 2019 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/19/63/34601 |
| Status | In Progress |
