A new breakthrough in treating atrial fibrillation using a targeted drug therapy has been discovered by Dr. Cristina Molina from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). This newly identified therapy targets phosphodiesterase 8B (PDE8B), a protein responsible for the reduction of calcium currents that characterizes chronic atrial fibrillation. PDE8B is only found in the cells of the atria, making this therapy a targeted approach for treating atrial fibrillation unlike conventional drugs that target the whole heart. After successful lab testing, the new treatment is set to be tested on horses, as the symptoms of atrial fibrillation in horses are similar to humans. The study has been peer-reviewed and published in the European Heart Journal, demonstrating the validity of this new drug therapy.
