Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Left atrial changes linked to atrial fibrillation in dogs
By Tang, Min et al.·Published in Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society·2007·Department of Cardiology, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Alterations in electrophysiology and tissue structure of the left atrial posterior wall in a canine model of atrial fibrillation caused by chronic atrial dilatation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with chronic left atrial dilatation (CDLA) developed heart rhythm problems known as atrial fibrillation (AF) after a heart valve issue. These dogs showed changes in the electrical activity of the heart, making it easier for AF to occur. The study found that the tissue in the left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) of these dogs had significant damage and scarring, which likely contributed to the heart's irregular rhythms. Understanding these changes can help veterinarians better manage heart issues in dogs with similar conditions.
People also search for: dog heart problems · atrial fibrillation in dogs · chronic heart disease in dogs · dog heart valve issues
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic left atrial dilatation (CDLA) is associated with an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The electrophysiological functions of the left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) are not well understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight control dogs and 8 with CDLA (developed 6 months after partial mitral valve avulsion) were studied. An electrophysiological study was performed using the noncontact mapping system. The conduction velocity was significantly decreased in the LAPW in the CDLA group. During atrial extrastimulation, a sharp curvature in the activation wavefront became apparent in the LAPW of 6 CDLA dogs, with unidirectional block in 1 dog. The effective refractory periods increased homogeneously throughout the atrium in the CDLA group. AF was much more easily inducible in the CDLA dogs than in the controls. After the onset of AF, the LAPW exhibited the earliest disorganized activity as compared with other sites in the left atrial. In the CDLA dogs, the most extensive interstitial fibrosis was observed in the LAPW. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in the electrophysiologic properties and tissue structure of the LAPW were observed in the CDLA dogs. This study supports the idea that the LAPW may play a role in the mechanism of AF induced by CDLA.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17895564/