Platelet-derived growth factor: A promising therapeutic target for atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia and is characterized by substantial electrophysiological and structural changes. AF is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and overall mortality. The risk of developing AF increases with age and with other risk factors such as diabetes and underlying heart disease. Currently, the therapeutic options for the treatment of AF have moderate effectiveness, and side effects, including proarrhythmic events, can often be encountered. The limited effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drugs available for the management of AF is especially problematic in the presence of chronic or persistent AF since long-term AF promotes its stabilization and can increase morbidity. Accordingly, there has been an ever-increasing need to find more effective and safer therapeutic strategies aimed at controlling AF. During the last decades and in the hope of finding a promising target, considerable attention has been devoted to the understanding of the fundamentals of AF: the underlying molecular mechanisms of its development and how it is sustained.
Source: Heart Rhythm - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Commentary Source Type: research