British journal of pharmacology
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Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, are occasionally observed in patients suffering from sepsis. Modulation of cardiac ion channel function and expression by sepsis may have a role in the genesis of tachyarrhythmias. ⋯ In atrial myocytes from guinea pigs with sepsis, APD was significantly shortened. This may reflect nitration of the ion channels which would alter channel functions, rather than changes in atrial expression of the channels. Shortening of APD could serve as one of the mechanisms underlying atrial tachyarrhythmia in sepsis.