Molecular Mechanism For Some Anti-Arrhythmia Drugs Discovered By University of British Columbia Researchers

University of British Columbia researchers - using an innovative, atom-by-atom substitution method - have uncovered the mechanism by which a particular class of drugs controls irregular heartbeats. The findings, published in the online journal Nature Communications, shed light on why certain anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) have dramatically different effects on the heart's behavior compared to others, and why the same drug can be beneficial in some instances and fatal in others. The discovery points the way toward development of better treatments for the condition, which is a leading cause of stroke.

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