Section: New Results

Reduced sodium current in the lateral ventricular wall induces J waves in the ECG

“J waves,” a particular abnormal waveform in electrocardiogram (ECG) leads, are associated with a higher risk for ventricular fibrillation. M. Potse has performed a series of simulations to investigate three possible mechanisms that could explain such waves and the associated arrhythmia risk. Out of these, a reduced sodium current in the lateral area of the left ventricular wall turned out to be the most powerful to cause J waves. The lateral area is particular because it is normally late activated, and a further delay due to regionally reduced sodium current can lead to J waves in the ECG. If the same occurs elsewhere in the heart, the resulting J waves would be masked by other ECG peaks. The simulations were supported, as far as possible, by experiments performed at the University of Amsterdam. The results have been published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology, and further refinements have recently been shown in a poster at the Annual workshop of IHU Liryc [14], [43].