Advances in Cardiac Arrhythmias: Mechanisms, Diagnostics and Therapeutics

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 22 May 2026 | Viewed by 804

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Second Department of Cardiology, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: rheumatoid arthritis; cardiovascular disease; cohort study; antiphospholipid syndrome; phospholipid antibody; prothrombin; maturity-onset diabetes of the young; sodium–glucose cotransporter 2; cardiovascular system
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cardiac electrophysiology is evolving rapidly, driven by breakthroughs in molecular science, advanced imaging, computational modeling, and innovative therapeutic approaches. This Special Issue seeks broad, multidisciplinary contributions that span the spectrum from basic mechanisms of impulse formation and conduction to clinical applications that refine diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of arrhythmias. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives exploring topics such as molecular and genetic drivers of arrhythmogenesis, novel biomarkers, advanced mapping and imaging, wearable and remote monitoring, computational and AI-based tools, as well as pharmacological, device-based, and interventional therapies. Submissions addressing atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, inherited channelopathies, conduction system disorders, and arrhythmias in structural heart disease are encouraged, with a particular focus on innovative approaches that bridge mechanistic understanding and precision, patient-centered care.

Dr. Paschalis Karakasis
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cardiac electrophysiology
  • arrhythmias
  • inherited channelopathies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

29 pages, 845 KB  
Review
Arrhythmia-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Atrial Fibrillation: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment
by Paschalis Karakasis, Panagiotis Theofilis, Panayotis K. Vlachakis, Anastasios Apostolos, Nikolaos Ktenopoulos, Konstantinos Grigoriou, Dimitrios Patoulias, Antonios P. Antoniadis and Nikolaos Fragakis
Life 2025, 15(11), 1675; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15111675 - 28 Oct 2025
Viewed by 580
Abstract
Arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) represents a potentially reversible form of LV dysfunction in which sustained atrial fibrillation (AF) and irregular, often rapid, ventricular activation drive maladaptive electrical, structural, and metabolic remodeling. Beyond simple rate effects, AIC reflects perturbed calcium handling, oxidative stress, and fibro-inflammatory [...] Read more.
Arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) represents a potentially reversible form of LV dysfunction in which sustained atrial fibrillation (AF) and irregular, often rapid, ventricular activation drive maladaptive electrical, structural, and metabolic remodeling. Beyond simple rate effects, AIC reflects perturbed calcium handling, oxidative stress, and fibro-inflammatory signaling that propagate atrial–ventricular crosstalk and energetic failure. Clinically, attribution remains challenging because AF may be the cause, consequence, or marker of underlying myocardial disease; however, substantial improvement in LVEF after durable rhythm control is strongly supportive of an AIC component. A disciplined diagnostic pathway—integrating rhythm burden quantification, echocardiographic deformation indices, cardiac magnetic resonance, and natriuretic peptide trajectories—can refine pre-test probability and guide treatment intensity. Early rhythm control has emerged as a disease-modifying strategy in AF with HF, with catheter ablation often central to burden reduction and reverse remodeling; in parallel, rapid initiation of guideline-directed HF therapy and targeted cardiometabolic interventions may favor substrate regression and facilitate durable sinus rhythm. Uncertainties persist regarding standardized AIC case definition, arrhythmia burden thresholds that secure sustained recovery, optimal sequencing of rhythm- and substrate-directed therapies, and criteria for de-escalation of HF treatment after recovery. This review synthesizes contemporary mechanistic, diagnostic, and therapeutic evidence on AIC in AF and delineates priorities for future trials. Full article
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