Electrophysiological Mechanisms Underlying T-Wave Alternans and Their Role in Arrhythmogenesis
Open Access
- 4 March 2021
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Frontiers Media SA in Frontiers in Physiology
Abstract
T-wave alternans (TWA) reflects every-other-beat alterations in the morphology of the electrocardiogram ST segment or T wave in the setting of a constant heart rate, hence, in the absence of heart rate variability. It is believed to be associated with the dispersion of repolarization and has been used as a non-invasive marker for predicting the risk of malignant cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death as numerous studies have shown. This review aims to provide up-to-date review on both experimental and simulation studies in elucidating possible mechanisms underlying the genesis of TWA at the cellular level, as well as the genesis of spatially concordant/discordant alternans at the tissue level, and their transition to cardiac arrhythmia. Recent progress and future perspectives in antiarrhythmic therapies associated with TWA are also discussed.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
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