The atrial electrical remodeling in atrial fibrillation

The electrical remodeling in atrial fibrillation is defined as the shortening of the atrial effective refractoriness, the loss of its late dependency and the slowing of conduction velocity caused by rapid excitation of the atrial muscle. Although, this phenomenon may play an important role in promoting the appearance of the reentrant atrial fibrillation by shortening the wavelength, the clinical aim and importance of controlling the electrical remodeling are still unclear. Ca channel or Na channel blockers may reduce the electrical remodeling in relatively short-term by preventing the elevation of intracellular Ca concentration, though, the long-term effect is unknown.