THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS, THEIR CURRENT TREATMENTS, AND THE POTENTIAL CELL BASED BIOLOGIC THERAPY

Abstract

Cardiac arrhythmias often present with complex set of symptoms and etiologies, and clinicians are tasked with determining the nature of arrhythmias and developing a therapy tailored to individual needs. Notably, atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common arrhythmia in adults in the United States. Atrial fibrillation results in desynchrony of electrical activity in the atria leading to abnormal muscle contractions and increasing the risk of stroke. Uncovering some of the potential cellular mechanisms and the risk factors that promote the progression of AFib is important. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is another type of arrhythmia with a myriad of etiologies encompassing a wide range of symptoms. It is a major contributor to the onset of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients, and multiple therapies have been developed to manage the disease. Furthermore, the use of cell-based therapy in the form of a biologic platform has emerged as an intriguing new approach to treating heart diseases. In this review, the characteristics and etiologies of AFib and VT are explored, along with their current therapies and the potential role of an active biologic platform in future treatments of heart disease.