ESC Highlights

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are inexorably linked. They frequently coexist and share common risk factors, including ageing, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, sleep apnoea and coronary disease.1–4 Over half of patients with HF develop AF at some point,5 and when AF occurs, it is associated with an increase in total mortality of up to 40%.6 In addition, […]

Welcome to the latest edition of European Journal of Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology. Cardiac arrhythmias, the most common of which is atrial fibrillation, represent a substantial health and economic burden worldwide. In the last two decades we have observed major breakthroughs in the management of arrhythmias, particularly in the field of cardiac electrophysiology, and some of the […]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), along with its more common subgroup, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), is the most common monogenic cardiovascular disorder, with a prevalence of about 1 in 500,1 and a dominant inheritance pattern, thus clustering in affected families. Patients with HCM often have significant limitations to their exercise capacity, and while there are several underlying pathomechanisms for […]

Atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias, is considered to be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke and mortality. The prevalence of AF increases with age, and patients with AF are at risk of atrial thrombosis and its consequences.1 The pathogenesis of AF consists of inflammatory activity, structural remodelling and endothelial […]

In this article, we review prior and recent landmark studies that have directed the treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT), discuss specific factors that influence anticoagulant choice, and explore ongoing trials that may impact treatment in the future. Older data estimated less than 1% of patients with malignancy developed venous thromboembolism (VTE), but more recent data […]

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation involves delivering medium-to-high-frequency alternating current, which is electrically conducted to cardiac tissue that constitutes a part of the circuit. The unipolar circuitry contains the generator, transmission lines, catheter, cardiac tissue, interposed tissue and dispersive electrode (ground pad/indifferent electrode). Bipolar systems, whereby the RF current flows between two electrodes, either on the same […]

Nearly half of patients who present with angina have non-obstructed coronary arteries (ANOCA).1 A significant proportion of these patients have a coronary vasomotor dysfunction, such as coronary microvascular disease and/or coronary artery spasm.2,3 Vasospastic angina (VSA) refers to a dysfunctional state where there is sudden coronary flow attenuation as a result of either epicardial or microvascular spasm, […]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of treated cardiac arrhythmia. The prevalence of the condition increases with age, and it presents with a wide spectrum of symptoms and severity. As the population ages, particularly in developed countries, the burden of AF increases.1 Compared with sinus rhythm, AF is also associated with an increased incidence of […]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and a major cause of morbidity and mortality; however, an optimal strategy for its management remains somewhat unclear, especially for patients with persistent AF.1 Electrical cardioversion (ECV) is widely used in patients with persistent AF when a rhythm control strategy is pursued. In this real-world, […]