Arrhythmias and Sudden Death Research
Cardiac rhythm disturbances may account for as many as one-half million deaths each year in the United States. More than a dozen members of the Cardiology Division's faculty are studying various aspects of this problem, including Drs. Roger Freedman, Richard Klein, John Bridge, Robert MacLeod, Philip Ershler, Robert Lux, and Kenneth Spitzer.
Basic electrophysiology research involves examination of the control of the tiny currents which activate heart cells. These experiments are carried out on microscopic patches of cardiac cell membranes obtained from humans. Other experiments are performed on sections of heart muscle to understand the integration of electrical activity of multiple heart cells. Studies of intact hearts of large animals focus on identification and analysis of abnormal cardiac electrical phenomena which cause arrhythmias.
Studies in humans include further analysis of mechanisms of arrhythmias and testing of novel diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in humans. All facets of cardiac arrhythmia research in the Cardiology Division are interrelated. The basic science effort is enhanced by the clinical effort, and new treatments arise from the fundamental observations of the basic scientists. Much of this work is supported by an NIH SCOR Grant in Sudden Death, Directed by Dr. Robert Lux.
