Effects of Electrical Stimulation of Carotid Baroreflex and Renal Denervation on Atrial Electrophysiology

Renal Denervation and Baroreflex Stimulation Introduction This study was designed to compare the effect of electrical baroreflex stimulation (BRS) at an intensity used in hypertensive patients and renal denervation (RDN) on atrial electrophysiology. BRS and RDN reduce blood pressure and global sympa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology 2013-09, Vol.24 (9), p.1028-1033
Main Authors: LINZ, DOMINIK, MAHFOUD, FELIX, SCHOTTEN, ULRICH, UKENA, CHRISTIAN, NEUBERGER, HANS-RUPRECHT, WIRTH, KLAUS, BÖHM, MICHAEL
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
atrial fibrillation
Atrial Function - physiology
Baroreflex - physiology
baroreflex stimulation
Carotid Arteries - physiology
hypertension
Kidney - innervation
Kidney - physiology
Male
Pilot Projects
renal denervation
Swine
Sympathectomy - methods
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Renal Denervation and Baroreflex Stimulation Introduction This study was designed to compare the effect of electrical baroreflex stimulation (BRS) at an intensity used in hypertensive patients and renal denervation (RDN) on atrial electrophysiology. BRS and RDN reduce blood pressure and global sympathetic drive in patients with resistant hypertension. Whereas RDN decreases sympathetic renal afferent nerve activity, leading to decreased central sympathetic drive, BRS modulates autonomic balance by activation of the baroreflex, resulting in both reduced sympathetic drive and increased vagal activation. Increased vagal tone potentially shortens atrial refractoriness resulting in a stabilization of reentry circuits perpetuating atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and Results In normotensive anesthetized pigs (n = 12), we compared the acute effect of BRS and RDN on blood pressure, atrial effective refractory period (AERP), and inducibility of AF. Electrical BRS was titrated to result in comparable heart rate and blood pressure reduction compared to irreversible RDN. BRS resulted in a rapid and pronounced shortening of AERP (from 162 ± 8 milliseconds to 117 ± 16 milliseconds, P = 0.001) associated with increased AF‐inducibility from 0% to 82%. This shortening in AERP was completely reversible after stopping BRS. After administration of atropine, AF‐inducibility during BRS was attenuated. Ventricular repolarization was not modulated by BRS. In RDN, AF was not inducible; however, it did not prevent BRS‐induced shortening of AERP. Conclusion RDN and BRS resulting in comparable blood pressure and heart rate reductions differently influence atrial electrophysiology. Vagally mediated shortening of AERP, resulting in increased AF‐inducibility, was observed with BRS but not with RDN.
ISSN:1045-3873
1540-8167
DOI:10.1111/jce.12171