Scientists from the University of Washington School of Medicine have made an intriguing discovery that...
Arrhythmia – is a condition in which the heartbeats irregularly, which can lead to potentially dangerous health problems. This is the result of problems with the way electrical signals are transmitted through tissue, and one of the main treatments is called catheter ablation. This invasive procedure involves inserting special tubes through arteries into the heart and creating a small burn that creates scar tissue that interrupts signals.
What did they find
Several years ago, the Washington DC teamUniversity has discovered a much less invasive alternative – radiation therapy, which is often used to treat cancer patients. When targeting the heart, this therapy has been found to improve arrhythmia symptoms as well as catheter ablation, and perhaps even better.
It was assumed that under the influence of radiationscars similar to the catheter ablation process are formed, but observations have shown that other factors are at work. Radiation therapy seemed to improve symptoms in a matter of days, rather than the months it might take with catheter ablation. So in a new study, scientists have figured out what else might be going on.
What are the prospects
Subsequent tests in mouse hearts showed that the activity of a signaling pathway called Notch was temporarily increased. This increases sodium ion channels in the heart muscle, decreasing arrhythmias.
Surprisingly, the Notch signaling pathway is usuallyinactive in adults. It plays a key role in the development of the heart's electrical system and then subsides in adulthood. Activating this pathway with radiation appears to temporarily return the tissue to a healthier, “young” state. The beneficial effects have been observed to last for at least two years in patients.
The team plans to continue investigating this method as a potential treatment for arrhythmias and to find out the optimal radiation dose.
Source: nature, wustl.edu
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