Mechanisms of sudden cardiac death
Michael Rubart, Douglas P. Zipes
Michael Rubart, Douglas P. Zipes
Published September 1, 2005
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2005;115(9):2305-2315. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI26381.
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Science in Medicine

Mechanisms of sudden cardiac death

Abstract

Despite recent advances in preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to cardiac arrhythmia, its incidence in the population at large has remained unacceptably high. Better understanding of the interaction among various functional, structural, and genetic factors underlying the susceptibility to, and initiation of, fatal arrhythmias is a major goal and will provide new tools for the prediction, prevention, and therapy of SCD. Here, we review the role of aberrant intracellular Ca2+ handling, ionic imbalances associated with acute myocardial ischemia, neurohumoral changes, and genetic predisposition in the pathogenesis of SCD due to cardiac arrhythmia. Therapeutic measures to prevent SCD are also discussed.

Authors

Michael Rubart, Douglas P. Zipes

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Figure 1

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Temporal relationship between ECG and single cardiomyocyte action potent...
Temporal relationship between ECG and single cardiomyocyte action potential. (A) The waves and intervals of a normal ECG. (B) Schematic representation of a ventricular action potential and its major underlying ionic currents. The downward arrow indicates influx; the upward arrow, efflux.