New source for afib is discovered

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine say they have discovered a novel cellular source of atrial fibrillation.

Drs. Jonathan Epstein and Vickas Patel, who led the study, said they identified a population of cells in the atria of the heart and pulmonary veins of humans and mice that appear to be the seat of atrial fibrillation, often called afib, the most common type of abnormal heartbeat.

The scientists said their finding might lead to a more precise way to treat atrial fibrillation, with reduced side effects.

"For the most part, current drug therapy for atrial fibrillation has been disappointingly ineffective and drug therapy is often associated with burdensome side-effects," Patel said.

Epstein added, "If these cells are truly the source of (atrial fibrillation) in some patients, and we can figure out a way to identify them, then our ablation can be far more precise and targeted, thus limiting potential side effects, making the procedure potentially more simple and rapid, and hence more cost effective."

But the investigators caution more research is needed to get to the point where the hypothesis can be validated in patients.

The study appears in the early online edition of The Journal of Clinical Investigation.