Recent studies have produced more information on how a type of heart-ailment, known as Atrial Fibrillation, or AF, can be caused. The research has identified that metabolic stress can trigger the heart to beat faster, at an abnormal pace that can lead to an irregular heart-beat. These findings may be able to help medical expert’s devise new means of treating the condition, which in the UK presently affected at least a quarter of the population at some point in their lives.
The British Heart Foundation have recently published a study, which links metabolic stresses, caused by inadequate oxygen supplies to the heart, with changes that can occur within the electrical functioning of the heart’s upper chambers.
The research identified that that specific types of proteins, known as KATP – can cause metabolic changes within the body. The study’s lead researcher, Dr Andrew James has said:
“It is well-established that KATP channels in the ventricles of the heart can become activated following metabolic stress caused by blockage of a coronary artery. In principle, their activation could protect the heart muscle cells against metabolic stress-induced damage. On the other hand, the activation of ventricular KATP channels can contribute to disturbances in the electrical activity of the heart known as arrhythmia’s”.
He continues to explain:
“Arrhythmia’s in the ventricles can be very dangerous, leading to ventricular fibrillation and death. Atrial arrhythmia’s such as atrial fibrillation (AF), are not usually immediately fatal but they are very common and a major cause of stroke. Notably, KATP channels are also found in the atria but, in contrast to the ventricles, their role in atrial arrhythmia’s remains unknown.”
These findings have helped to produce a model that can be used to ensure that drugs developed in the future, for treatment of AF, satisfy specific criteria relating to metabolic-process and make them more effective.
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