- Researchers are reporting that light treatment called optogenetics might work in dealing with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
- They state the treatment rapidly brought back a routine heart rhythm to rats impacted by AFib.
- Experts state the findings are intriguing, however they aren’t sure light treatment will change the present treatments for AFib.
Optogenetics – utilizing light to control cells – might treat atrial fibrillation, according to a
In their research study, researchers utilized optogenetics to customize targeted cells in rats to bring back a routine rhythm to hearts impacted by atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Based on the action, the scientists reported that the method might completely permeate the atrial wall in human beings to treat the heart disease.
They said this technique would use a shock-free alternative for dealing with AFib or irregular or fast heart rate. Once a doctor finished the treatment, the scientists said, the heart would go back to its routine rhythm right away.
“The idea of using genetics to force express cardiac ion channels and using a light source to terminate AFib is quite remarkable,” said Dr. Aseem Desai, FHRS, an electrophysiologist at Providence Mission Hospital and the co-director of Mission Heritage Heart Rhythm Specialists in California who was not associated with the research study.
“This study is mainly about proof of concept, not clinical application currently,” Desai informed Medical News Today. “The study has two claims: 1) optogenetic cardioversion of AFib is possible in rat atria that have undergone negative remodeling that would be typically seen in AFib patients, and 2) the irradiation levels required for AF termination in the rat model can also penetrate human atrial tissue outside the body (ex vivo).”
This light-based innovation is a long method off from being utilized in mainstream medication.
“It is exciting from a scientific standpoint and as a proof of concept, but it is hard to envision it in a medical setting,” said Dr. Chirag Barbhaiya, a heart electrophysiologist at NYU Langone Heart and an assistant teacher in the Department of Medicine in the Leon H Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York.
“I think the most interesting part is that you can modify heart cells. It does open the possibility of treating rhythm problems in a less invasive way,” Barbhaiya, who was not associated with the research study, informed Medical News Today.
Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California who likewise was not associated with the research study, concurs that the findings are interesting and hold some pledge for future treatments.
“We are changing and modifying how cardiac cells operate via light,” Tadwalkar informed Medical News Today.
“Suppose you have a room and want to put electricity in it, but it doesn’t have any plugs. The wiring you need to install is the genetic material to modify the room. This changes how the room operates. In our example, it changes how cardiac cells operate. Then, you can use light to generate cardiac current to modify the heart rate.”
“But this is still very much experimental,” he included. “There is still a lot of work to be done. We need clinical trials in humans, long-term clinical data, and comparisons to other therapies. If it works in humans, it could offer a safe and effective alternative that is easier on the patient and could be done outside the hospital.”
“The concept is fascinating, but at this point, it is still investigational,” Tadwalkar kept in mind.
Untreated AFib can cause persistent tiredness and increase the threat of establishing heart disease or stroke.
Doctors treat AFib based upon the client’s condition, underlying health conditions, and objectives, such as keeping your heart rate, bring back a regular heart rhythm, and avoiding embolism.
“There are two steps to treating AFib,” Barbhaiya said. “The first is to restore regular rhythm, but the second step is more difficult – maintaining the regular rhythm. This involves finding the underlying condition and fixing that.”
“This technology might be able to accomplish the first step, but if it can’t accomplish the second, I don’t think it is as valuable a tool as we would like it to be,” Barbhaiya said.
Typically, physicians will suggest making way of life modifications to handle AFib, such as:
- Lose weight if required
- Increase exercise
- Manage tension
- Quitting smoking cigarettes
- Eating a heart-healthy diet plan
Many individuals with AFib take medications to manage it.
According to the
- Antiplatelets to stop embolism from forming by avoiding clumping.
- Anticoagulants to decrease or avoid embolisms from forming.
- Beta-blockers to help slow the heart rate.
- Calcium-channel blockers to possibly slow the heart rate and lower the strength of the heart’s contraction, lowering high blood pressure.
- Sodium-channel blockers to lower the heart rate by decreasing its capability to perform electrical power.
- Potassium-channel blockers lower the electrical signals that trigger AFib.
According to the
- Electrical cardioversion – brings back the heart rhythm by utilizing low-energy shocks to the heart
- Catheter ablation – a surgical treatment treatment to destroy tissue that is triggering the arrhythmia
- Pacemaker – usually utilized when AFib is identified in addition to another arrhythmia
- Maze treatment – a surgery that develops scars to help bring back the regular heart rhythm
“Because cardioversion is relatively easy to set up and do, I’m not sure if it will be replaced by treatments like this,” Desai said..
“Studies like these are useful because they are thought-provoking and one of the main ways we expand our current thinking of disease processes and novel therapies,” he included.
