Mayo Clinic researchers have found a gene mutation linked to one family’s hereditary form of atrial fibrillation. Researchers hope this discovery will lead to better understanding of the disease and, eventually, better ways to predict, prevent and treat the heart rhythm problem.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common irregular heartbeat seen by physicians and affects more than 2 million Americans. Most individuals with atrial fibrillation have identifiable risk factors, such as high blood pressure or structural heart disease, and tend to be elderly. But studies indicate that genetics also has a role, says Timothy Olson, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study.
“We know that some patients develop atrial fibrillation at a younger age without an apparent underlying cause, suggesting a hereditary basis for their disease and prompting research to identify gene mutations,” Dr. Olson says. “The family history may provide an additional clue. Atrial fibrillation can be caused by genetic defects that patients are born with, yet it typically takes years or decades for the heart to become electrically unstable and for symptoms of arrhythmia to develop.”
Dr. Olson provides background on the research and an overview of the study.
Dr. Olson describes the next steps for the research and potential future applications.
4 Comments
I am a 45 year old suffering from bouts of A-Fib. I have gone to the emergency room 3 times over the past 3 years. It used to be only once in a while but now I get it daily. It appears to be directly related to the digestive track. Perhaps the vegas nerve.My father has the same problem along with my uncle. It always seems to be associated with deep belching. My gastoenterologist has never heard of such a thing but I know my body and there is a definite correlation. I have also seen a electropysiologist who presrcibed me some pills to slow my heart rate but do not stop the a-fib. Any advice from anyone with knolege of this condition(possible vegal A-Fib) would be appreciated
I am 53 years old and have symtoms like yours. 4 abulance rides in past 3 months. whenever I go into afib it is accompanied by deep belching and involantary swollowing of air. My electrophysiologist says that it caused by the atrium of the heart slapping the a-fibe esophogeal tissues. Like yours I have not been able to come up with any relief. High doses of amiodarone seem to work somewhat but the side affects are worse the a-fib. I’m now not sure whether the belching causes the a-fib or vice versa
I am 53 years old and have symtoms like yours. 4 ambulance rides in past 3 months. whenever I go into a-fib it is accompanied by deep belching and involuntary swollowing of air. My electrophysiologist says that it caused by the atrium of the heart slapping the a-fib esophogeal tissues. Like yours I have not been able to come up with any relief. High doses of amiodarone seem to work somewhat but the side affects are worse than the a-fib. I’m now not sure whether the belching causes the a-fib or vice versa
I too have the same situation. For Two years I have battled to keep the a-fib under control. I was perscribed sotolol to regulate the heart, but it seems to do nothing to keep the a-fib at bay. Like the others, it is directly gastro related. Belching sometimes relieves the symptoms but always accompanies the a-fib. My 18 year old daughter also suffers palpatations. We notcied the symptoms after a very bad stomach flu in November of 06. Neither of us had experienced a-fib before the flu.