Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology: the eagle can land.

In 2004, Joseph Loscalzo, the then-new editor-in-chief of Circulation, invited readers to use the journal to soar like an eagle above the cardiovascular landscape and to stay informed of cutting-edge advances in cardiovascular medicine. From that broad vista, readers could hone their focus to specific areas and monitor the latest findings that came to the fore in the highest-quality original investigations that have defined Circulation from its inception. We now welcome you to Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. The arrival of this new member of the American Heart Association family facilitates transmission of important advances to clinicians and investigators who needed more focused knowledge in the field. The journal will be published bimonthly in electronic and printed formats; however, all articles will also be posted online immediately upon acceptance. Although Circulation will remain the core platform for studies in electrophysiology and arrhythmias with implications that warrant rapid dissemination to the broad cardiovascular community, the new journal will include outstanding investigations of a more focused nature that have been selected through the same rigorous review process, subject to the same high standards, as articles in Circulation. In addition to original investigations, ongoing reviews from leaders in the field will provide perspective and accessible summaries. The “Advances in Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology” series will focus on topics of interest to the clinician and researcher, including pathophysiology, natural history, and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. “Basic Science for the Clinical Electrophysiologist” will bring physiological and pathophysiological insights from basic investigations into context for the clinician. “Controversies in Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology” will bring all sides of unresolved issues into focus. “Images and Case Reports in Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology” will feature online clinical or basic science images (including movies) that provide insight into mechanisms, elucidate a new therapy, or illustrate important “classic” or novel findings. The new journal will accelerate dissemination of knowledge in the field. Links between the parent journal, Circulation, and Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology will facilitate organization of the advancing knowledge base, making it easier for busy practitioners and investigators to stay abreast of the field and find the information they need. Publication of important investigations will be rapid while maintaining high scientific standards. All manuscripts will be handled under the supervision of the expanded Circulation editorial office staff. Authors have the option of submitting manuscripts to Circulation or to Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. Authors who submit a manuscript to Circulation that is determined to be of high quality, but of insufficient priority for publication in Circulation because of its subspeciality focus, will be offered the opportunity to have their manuscript considered for publication in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. If the authors choose this option, the Circulation reviews will serve as the initial evaluation for Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, and no additional review will be necessary. Authors will be asked to respond to the Circulation reviewers’ comments and to submit a revision to Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology for a final decision. Although acceptance will not be guaranteed, this process will take far less time than resubmitting a manuscript de novo to another journal. I am delighted that the American Heart Association and Dr Loscalzo have had the vision to support cardiac electrophysiology with a dedicated journal. The field is exploding on all fronts, from the genetic and cellular to the clinical arenas. As an associate editor for Circulation, I have seen a steady stream of investigations in electrophysiology that, despite high scientific quality and importance to the field, disappointingly, could not be awarded sufficient priority for publication in Circulation. The new journal provides a welcome forum for these investigations. We hope that the cardiac electrophysiologist will continue to soar over the broad field but find this new resource a welcome landing for high-quality, exciting, cutting-edge knowledge in arrhythmias and electrophysiology.