Heritability and genetics of atrial fibrillation

In the past 5 years, it has become increasingly clear that atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heritable condition. Mutations in six different ion channels have been described in families and individuals with AF, although screening of patients with AF reveals that these gene mutations appear to account for only rare cases of the disease. Recently, a genome-wide association study has identified a novel region of susceptibility for AF on chromosome 4. Our hope is that the identification of the genetic basis of AF will ultimately lead to the discovery of new pathways and therapeutic targets for this common arrhythmia. © 2007 Current Medicine Group LLC.