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The Pacemaker Current: From Basics to the Clinics
Author(s) -
BARBUTI ANDREA,
BARUSCOTTI MIRKO,
DIFRANCESCO DARIO
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2006.00736.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chronotropic , diastolic depolarization , cardiology , diastole , cardiac pacemaker , pacemaker potential , autonomic function , diastolic function , depolarization , heart rate , heart rate variability , sinoatrial node , blood pressure
Activation of the pacemaker (“funny,” I f ) current during diastole is the main process underlying generation of the diastolic depolarization and spontaneous activity of cardiac pacemaker cells. I f modulation by autonomic transmitters is responsible for the chronotropic regulation of heart rate. Given its role in pacemaking, I f has been a major target of investigation aimed to exploit its rate‐controlling function in a clinical perspective. In this short review, we describe some of the most recent clinically relevant applications of the concept of I f ‐based pacemaking.