EXPLORING THE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS AND UNDERLYING MECHANISMS IN PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive incurable disease with unclear etiology. Primary cause of death in PAH patients is right (-sided) heart failure, occurring as a direct consequence of increased right ventricular (RV) afterload. Importantly, around 25% of these deaths have been linked to cardiac arrhythmias. However, mechanisms underlying arrhythmia susceptibility in patients with elevated pulmonary arterial and RV pressure remains unclear

Conclusions: PAH in Fischer rats treated with MCT was associated with electrical remodeling and reduced vascular density. These changes in RV may contribute to increased susceptibility to arrhythmias and sudden death in PAH.