New perspective on atrial fibrillation: A theoretical assumption

Atrial Fibrillation: A Perspective

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common clinical problem that is increasing in prevalence1 and is inextricably linked to another burgeoning cardiovascular problem, namely, congestive heart failure.2 There is increasing evidence that AF, at least in some population subsets, may be part of a spectrum of atherosclerotic vascular disease, hypertension, inflammation, diastolic dysfunction, and the meta...

Atrial fibrillation: a historical perspective.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has undoubtedly become one of the most well-studied arrhythmias today in terms of pathophysiology and diagnostic and therapeutic (interventional) electrophysiology. Although it lends itself to an apparently easy diagnosis on the surface electrocardiography, myriad electromechanical mechanisms underlie its origin. We have now reached an era of technology that makes AF no...

Sir James Mackenzie and atrial fibrillation--a new perspective.

T^OTAL irregularity of the pulse was known to the ¦* ancients, but the relationship of the pulse to the heart beat was often debated; indeed, Abercromby (1685) said that "the origin of the pulse is as mysterious as the source of the Nile". These uncertainties were abolished after Laennec (1816) had introduced the stethoscope and auscultation, when the audible rhythm of the heart and palpation o...

Understanding atrial fibrillation: a historical perspective.

Atrial fibrillation: new horizons.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia seen in clinical practice. The understanding of the pathophysiology of AF has changed drastically during the last several decades. Recent observations have challenged the concept of the multiple circuit reentry model in favor of single focus or single circuit reentry models. Atrial electrical dysfunction provides a favorable substra...