The role of Purkinje fibres in mechanically-induced arrhythmias
Researchers in the UK and France are testing a new theory that could change the treatment of irregular heart rhythms. Irregular heart rhythms – when the heart beat is too fast, too slow, ‘fluttering’, or chaotic – are called arrhythmias. They come in many forms and can be dangerous. For instance, they may increase the risk of cardiac arrest or stroke. Some arrhythmias are triggered by the physical stretch of the heart muscle as the heart fills with blood. Others are caused by problems with the electrical current that travels through the heart. The two causes of arrhythmia were thought to be completely separate, but this research team now believe they are linked. Contraction of the heart muscle is triggered by an electrical signal that is spread through the heart by special cells, including those that make up Purkinje fibres. It is these fibres that are often targeted in ablation therapy – a procedure often used to treat arrhythmias. These researchers propose that Purkinje fibres may play a role in arrhythmias caused by stretch. In this project, they will collaborate with a team in France to test this theory, using animal hearts and heart cells in the lab. If their theory is proved, this research could open up new possibilities for future treatments in people who have stretch-induced arrhythmias.
Project details
| Grant amount | £272,048 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 30 March 2020 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/19/47/34335 |
| Status | In Progress |
