Ischemic Conditioning and Atrial Fibrillation: Hope for a NewTherapy?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia.It is accompanied by both structural and ion channel remodeling which underlie the propensity to perpetuate AF.The prevalence of AF is expected to increase as population ages and as more patients survival myocardial infarction. Despite pharmacological and nonpharmacological (such as ablation) therapies for AF, more effective therapy is needed. Ischemic or pharmacological conditioning offers a potential novel approach to patients with AF. This review will focus on the basic biology of ischemic pre- and postconditioning, patho-physiology of AF, potentially novel AF treatment approachs based on conditioning, and clinical situations that may be amenable to a conditioning strategy.