Autoantibody-mediated cardiac arrhythmias: mechanisms and clinical implications
- 12 November 2007
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Basic Research in Cardiology
- Vol. 103 (1), 1-11
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-007-0686-8
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias, including conduction defects and tach- yarrhythmias, represent an important source of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Among the different pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the arrhythmogenesis, an inappropriate activation of the immune system represents a field of recent increasing interest. In fact, a large amount of studies suggest that specific autoantibody may be significantly involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias not only in the course of systemic autoimmune disease, but also in a number of rhythm disorders currently classified as “idiopathic.” Although the strongest evidence concerns the relationship between anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and the development of congenital heart block in foetus and newborn, other specific autoantibodies demonstrated the aptitude to affect directly the myocardial tissue, thus producing interference in its bioelectric activity thereby leading to rhythm disorders, also life-threatening. The identification of an immunological autoantibody-mediated mechanism opens new perspectives in the treatment and prevention of cardiac arrhythmias in such patients, including the use of immunosuppressive agents and/or the removal of autoantibodies by immuno-adsorption technique.This publication has 46 references indexed in Scilit:
- Comparison of Frequency of Complex Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Positive Versus Negative Anti-Ro/SSA and Connective Tissue DiseaseThe American Journal of Cardiology, 2007
- IgGs and Mabs against the β2-adrenoreceptor block A-V conduction in mouse hearts: A possible role in the pathogenesis of ventricular arrhythmiasJournal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 2006
- Connective tissue diseases and cardiac rhythm disorders: An overviewAutoimmunity Reviews, 2006
- Autoantibodies against the serotoninergic 5-HT4 receptor and congenital heart block: A reassessmentJournal of Autoimmunity, 2005
- Autoantibodies against M2-muscarinic acetylcholine receptors: new upstream targets in atrial fibrillation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathyEuropean Heart Journal, 2004
- Prolongation of the corrected QT interval in adult patients with anti‐Ro/SSA–positive connective tissue diseasesArthritis & Rheumatism, 2004
- Autoimmunity against the second extracellular loop of beta1-adrenergic receptors induces early afterdepolarization and decreases in K-channel density in rabbitsJournal of the American College of Cardiology, 2004
- β1-Adrenoceptor autoimmunity in cardiomyopathyInternational Journal of Cardiology, 1996
- Antibodies to cardiac Purkinje cells: Further characterization in autoimmune diseases and atrioventricular heart blockClinical Immunology and Immunopathology, 1987
- Antibodies to Human Sinus Node in Sick Sinus SyndromePacing and Clinical Electrophysiology, 1986