Projects
Directed networks as a novel approach for improving the management of cardiac arrhythmias Ghent University
High-resolution three-dimensional electroanatomical cardiac mapping: a new era in diagnosis and treatment of canine arrhythmias with minimal radiation exposure Ghent University
Structural heart disease affects 10% of all dogs and commonly causes heart rhythm disturbances. These arrhythmias can also occur without underlying heart disease as primary electrical disorder. In dogs referred for cardiological investigation prevalence of arrhythmias is almost 40%, adding up to potentially 52600 dogs in Belgium at risk to suffer from sudden cardiac death or the consequences of heart failure. In humans, diagnosis and ...
New methods for 3D visualization and integration of detailed functional and anatomical information in the percutaneous treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. KU Leuven
Cardiac electrophysiology is the study of the electrical system of the heart with as main interest the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, ie. heart rhythms that are too slow (bradyarrhythmias) or too fast (tachy-arrhythmias). Since the 1980’s, we have the possibility to cure patients from various forms of cardiac arrhythmias with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) procedures. During these procedures, the focus or circuit ...
Transcatheter radiofrequency ablation as a new treatment for equine atrial arrhythmias Ghent University
Cardiac arrhythmias are common in horses and may have dramatic consequences such as collapse or sudden death. Sudden death occurs 10 times more frequently in horses compared to human athletes. Options for arrhythmia treatment are currently limited to drugs or electrical shocks with one major problem: a high recurrence rate. Transcatheter radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure in which local heating through a thin tube in ...
Arrhythmias in heart failure KU Leuven
With the team we study rhythm disturbances and heart failure, identifying cellular and molecular pathways, in exploratory mechanistic and translational studies. The research program is embedded in collaborations with clinical cardiologists, imaging research and molecular and cellular studies within KU Leuven, supported by institutional and national funding. Translational research is also organized in an international context by multilateral ...
Development of new compounds to define the potential of TRPM4 inhibition for prevention and suppression of Ca2+ dependent cardiac arrhythmias. KU Leuven
Ca2+ dependent arrhythmias are a critical feature of conditions such as CPVT, ischemia and atrial fibrillation. TRPM4 is a Ca activated cation channel and an interesting drug target for the prevention and suppression of this type of arrhythmias. To date, the only in vivo applicable blockers of TRPM4 are meclofenamate and glibenclamide, which have obviously other prominent targets and have a relatively low efficacy to block TRPM4. Therefore, ...
Transcatheter radiofrequency ablation as a new treatment for equine atrial arrhythmias Ghent University
Cardiac arrhythmias are common in horses and may pose a risk to horse and rider. Treatment is possible but very often the arrhythmia recurs. Transcatheter radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that not only treats the arrhythmia but also drastically reduces recurrence risk. The aim of this project is to develop a safe and efficient horse-adapted catheter ablation technique.
Conventional and 3-dimensional electrophysiological mapping of the canine heart: new horizons in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Ghent University
Cardiac arrhythmias occur frequently in dogs. Current medical treatment is not very effective, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Using conventional as well as 3-dimensional electrophysiological techniques, this project aims to improve therapy of canine arrhythmias by means of ablation, in cooperation with human cardiologists, also with the perspective of the dog as animal model for cardiac arrhythmias in people.
Cell-cell interactions and the role of tissue microarchitecture in cardiac arrhythmias after myocardial infarction KU Leuven
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is one of the leading causes of death among people who have suffered an acute myocardial infarction (MI), and is the cause of about half of all deaths from cardiovascular diseases. Most SCDs result from ventricular tachyarrhythmias - ventricular tachycardia(VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) and, less frequently, bradyarrhythmias. Therefore, identifying and treating areas vulnerable to arrhythmias have clinical ...