Common Gene Variant May Increase Risk for a Type of Cardiac Arrhythmia, Massachusetts General Hospital Study

ScienceDaily (Feb. 22, 2010) — An international research team has identified a common gene variant associated with a form of the irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. In their report in the journal Nature Genetics, being published online, the investigators describe finding that variations affecting a protein that may help control the heart's electrical activity appear to increase the risk of what is called lone atrial fibrillation (AF), a type seen in younger individuals with no other form of heart disease.