Genetics of Atrial Fibrillation

Recent studies of atrial fibrillation (AF) have identified mutations in a series of ion mutations; however, these channels appear to be relatively rare causes of AF. Recent genome-wide association studies for AF have identified novel variants associated with the disease, although the mechanism of action for these variants remains unknown. Ultimately, a greater understanding of the genetics of AF should yield insights into novel pathways, therapeutic targets, and diagnostic testing for this common arrhythmia.