Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Patient Perspective :Sinus Node Dysfunction in Atrial Fibrillation: Cause or Effect?

Citation : Anna Kezerashvili,Andrew K. Krumerman, John D. Fisher. Sinus Node Dysfunction in Atrial Fibrillation: Cause or Effect? .JAFIB.2008 Sep;1(3): 161-169.

Sick sinus syndrome, also called Sinus node dysfunction (SSS), is a group of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) presumably caused by a malfunction of the sinus node, the heart's "natural" pacemaker. Bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome is a variant of sick sinus syndrome where atrial flutter and fibrillation alternate with prolonged periods of asystole.

SSS often coexists with Atrial Fibrillation, and in this extensive and interesting review Dr. Fisher et al., from Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine explore the close interplay between the two conditions.

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