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Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Isolation of Human Atrial Myocytes for Simultaneous Measurements of Ca2+ Transients and Membrane Currents
Published on: July 3, 2013
Remodeling of cardiomyocyte ion channels in human atrial fibrillation
Dobromir Dobrev1, Ursula Ravens
1Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät der TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany. dobrev@rcs.urz.tu-dresden.de
Abstract:
This review is focused on electrical adaptational processes in patients with chronic AF. Cellular electrical remodeling includes shortening of action potential duration and effective refractory period that can be explained by concomitant alterations in ion channel activity. While most currents studied are reduced or unaffected, the inward rectifier I(K1) is increased in amplitude. The time courses of these changes and the putative molecular mechanisms suggest that electrical remodeling in chronically fibrillating human atria are adaptive processes. New therapeutic options could consist of supporting rather than reversing the adaptive mechanisms.
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