Chloroquine terminates stretch-induced atrial fibrillation more effectively than flecainide in the sheep heart.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Blockade of inward-rectifier K+ channels by chloroquine terminates reentry in cholinergic atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is unknown whether inward-rectifier K+ channels and reentry are also important in maintaining stretch-induced AF (SAF). We surmised that reentry underlies SAF, and that abolishing reentry with chloroquine terminates SAF more effectively than traditional Na+-channel blockade by flecainide.

Methods and results

Thirty Langendorff-perfused sheep hearts were exposed to acute and continuous atrial stretch, and mapped optically and electrically. AF dynamics were studied under control and during perfusion of either chloroquine (4 µmol/L, n=7) or flecainide (2-4 µmol/L, n=5). Chloroquine increased rotor core size and decreased reentry frequency fr

SUBMITTER: Filgueiras-Rama D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3380168 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature