Hyperkalemia, acidosis and hypoxia are the three main components of acute myocardial ischemia. In particular, the increase of extracellular K+ concentration (hyperkalemia), has been proved to be very proarrhythmic because it sets the stage for ventricular fibrillation. However, the intimate mechanisms remain partially unknown. The aim of this work was to investigate, using computational simulation, the relationship between the different phases of hiperkalemia, the activity of the ion channels and the changes related to the action potential in the absence of coronary flow. Our results show that the partial inhibition of the sodium-potassium pump is the main cause of extracellular potassium accumulation. However, the cause of the plateau phase could be due to the appearance of action potential alternans, which reduces the net potassium efflux and limits the increase of extracellular potassium concentration.

Why Does Extracellular Potassium Rise in Acute Ischemia? Insights from Computational Simulations

Rodriguez-Matas J. F.;
2019-01-01

Abstract

Hyperkalemia, acidosis and hypoxia are the three main components of acute myocardial ischemia. In particular, the increase of extracellular K+ concentration (hyperkalemia), has been proved to be very proarrhythmic because it sets the stage for ventricular fibrillation. However, the intimate mechanisms remain partially unknown. The aim of this work was to investigate, using computational simulation, the relationship between the different phases of hiperkalemia, the activity of the ion channels and the changes related to the action potential in the absence of coronary flow. Our results show that the partial inhibition of the sodium-potassium pump is the main cause of extracellular potassium accumulation. However, the cause of the plateau phase could be due to the appearance of action potential alternans, which reduces the net potassium efflux and limits the increase of extracellular potassium concentration.
2019
Computing in Cardiology
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
CinC2019-088.pdf

accesso aperto

: Publisher’s version
Dimensione 323.62 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
323.62 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/1167353
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact