Perspectives -- biological pacing, a clinical reality?

Gwilym M Morris, Mark R Boyett

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Bradyarrhythmias are common and may be caused by sinus node dysfunction or conduction block. Many of these conditions can be treated by the implantation of electronic cardiac pacemakers that reduce mortality and morbidity in carefully selected patient groups. Implantable electronic pacemakers are small, sophisticated and reliable but not without complication and limitation. Efforts have been made to create a de novo sinus node using gene therapy, the so-called biopacemaker. This approach has potential as permanent cure for bradyarrythmias with greater physiological responsiveness than that provided by rate-responsive electronic pacemakers. This article reviews the current approaches to the problem and gives a perspective on the challenges remaining to bring the therapy to clinical practice.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)479-483
    Number of pages5
    JournalTherapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease
    Volume3
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2009

    Keywords

    • Animals
    • Bradycardia/mortality
    • Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/methods
    • Equipment Design
    • Genetic Therapy/methods
    • Humans
    • Pacemaker, Artificial

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