- A cardiac arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats irregularly.
- The most common type of cardiac arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, which can lead to stroke or heart failure.
- Researchers from the University of Chicago have found a drug used to treat certain cancers and skin conditions can be repurposed to help treat cardiac arrhythmias.
A person experiences a cardiac arrhythmia when their heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly.
The most common type of cardiac arrhythmia is called atrial fibrillation. This occurs when the upper and lower chambers of the heart become uncoordinated, affecting blood flow.
Sometimes atrial fibrillation can lead to severe complications, such as stroke and heart failure.
Previous research shows about
Now, researchers from the University of Chicago have found a drug used to treat certain cancers and skin conditions called
This study was recently published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
For this study, researchers began by looking for potential
“CaMKII is abundant in
“For example, CaMKII contributes to heart rate increases and improved muscle performance, as part of a ‘fight or flight’ stress response,” he said.
“However, excessive CaMKII activity causes electrical instability of the heart muscle cell membranes — mostly by activating electrical proteins called
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