New aspects in cardiac arrhythmias: the roll of ion channels and genetic aspects

Recent advances in molecular biology have had a major impact on our underst anding of the mechanisms of human diseases. Electrophysiology is one of the areas which, besides others, has substantially benefited from this develop ment. Our understanding of the structure, function and mechanisms of the re gulation of ion channels as well as their contribution to the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias has substantially increased. The results of these st udies are not only of special interest from the scientific point of view. I t is likely to assume that, in the future, they will increasingly influence the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias.