CV - molecular mechanisms of arrhythmias and anti arrhythmic drugs Flashcards
(179 cards)
fundamentally there are two types of problems leading to arrhythmia generation. what are they?
1 inappropriate impulse generation in the SA node or elsewhere (ectopic focus)
2 disturbed impulse conduction in the nodes, conduction cells (purkinje cells) or myocytes
what are the causes of inappropriate impulse initiation? (2)
ectopic foci
triggered afterdepolarizations triggered by action potential (early afterdepolarizations (EADs) or delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs))
what are the causes of disturbed impulse conduction? (2)
conduction block (primary, secondary or tertiary) reentry
what are the broader causes for cardiac arrhythmias? (6)
myocardial infarction ischemia acidosis/alkalosis electrolyte abnormalities excessive catecholamine exposure drug toxicity
in ectopic foci, the SA nodal pacemaker is abnormally ___________ OR an ectopic focus is abnormally ___________.
slow
fast
in what phase of the cardiac action potential do early afterdepolarizations (EADs) appear?
late phase 2 and phase 3
in what phase of the cardiac action potential do delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) appear?
early phase 4
early afterdepolarizations (EADs) are largely dependent on reactivation ___________ in response to elevated ___________.
Ca2+ channels
[Ca2+]in
during an EAD, the prolongation of ___________ contributes to elevated [Ca2+]in.
phase 2
delayed afterpolarizations (DADs) are initiated by elevated ___________ and, consequently, elevated ___________.
[Ca2+]in
Na+/Ca2+ exchange
the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) generates ___________ current by moving ___________ Na+ ions ___________ the cell and ___________ Ca2+ ions ___________ the cell.
I_NCX 3 into 1 out of
prolongation of the QT interval leads to ___________ and ___________.
afterdepolarizations
arrhythmia
what two conditions are required to cause a reentrant arrhythmia?
1 unidirectional conduction block in a functional circuit
2 conduction time around the circuit is longer than the refractory period
in many cases, arrhythmia is triggered by ___________ and maintained by ___________.
afterdepolarizations
reentry
describe torsades de pointes
a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia initiated by a prolongation of the plateau phase (phase 2) of the fast response cardiac action potential in ventricular myocytes
the term “twisting of points” describes the appearance of the abnormal ECG typically triggered by an abrupt increase in sympathetic tone as occurs with emotional excitement, fright, or physical activity, also associated with pathological heart failure such as long QT syndrome
___________ is believed to be responsible for the premature beat that initiates torsades de pointes
EAD-induced extra systole
describe congenital long QT syndrome
congenital long QT syndrome is a prolongation of the duration of the cardiac action potential (QT interval) that can lead to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death
Romano-Ward syndrome (RWS)
autosomal dominant form of long QT syndrome
while RWS is genetically heterogeneous, the most prevalent mutations identified are found in the ___________ channel, the ___________ channel, and the ___________ channel.
slow cardiac K+
rapid cardiac K+
cardiac Na+
Jervell-Lang-Nielson syndrome (JLNS)
autosomal recessive form of long QT syndrome
what is the mutation associated with JLNS?
homozygous mutations in I_Ks, the slow cardiac K+ channel
what is the additional phenotype associated with homozygosity of the I_Ks mutation in JLNS?
congenital deafness
what is the affect of long QT mutations in cardiac K+ channel subunits?
generally reduce the number of K+ channels expressed in the myocyte plasma membrane (loss of function mutations), thereby reducing the size of the K+ current (I_Kr + I_Ks) that helps terminate the plateau phase of the fast response cardiac action potential and return the membrane to resting potential
what is the affect of long QT mutations in cardiac Na+ channels?
prevent Na+ channels from inactivating completely (gain of function mutations), thereby prolonging phase 2 of the fast response action potential