Afterdepolarization

Afterdepolarization (pronounced: af-ter-dee-poh-lahr-uh-zey-shuhn) is a term used in Cardiology and Electrophysiology to describe a disturbance in the cardiac rhythm caused by an abnormal depolarization following a normal action potential.

Etymology

The term "Afterdepolarization" is derived from the English words "after", meaning following in time or place, and "depolarization", which in the context of cardiology refers to the change in a cell's membrane potential, making it more positive, or less negative.

Types of Afterdepolarization

There are two types of afterdepolarizations: early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs).

Early afterdepolarizations (EADs) occur during phases 2 and 3 of the action potential. They are often associated with long QT syndromes, both congenital and acquired.

Delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) occur after completion of the action potential and repolarization. They are often associated with conditions that lead to an increase in intracellular calcium, such as digitalis toxicity and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT).

Clinical Significance

Afterdepolarizations can lead to triggered activity, which can cause cardiac arrhythmias. Understanding the mechanisms of afterdepolarizations can help in the development of therapeutic strategies for these arrhythmias.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Afterdepolarization
Wikipedia's article - Afterdepolarization

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Afterdepolarization