Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Horses: Pathophysiology, Diagnostics and Clinical Aspects

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Atrial fibrillation is the most common pathological cardiac arrhythmia affecting performance in horses. The sporadic form of atrial fibrillation, termed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, spontaneously cardioverts to normal sinus rhythm usually within 7 days. The condition may go undetected, as episodes can occur intermittently at different frequencies and vary in duration from minutes to hours. However, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may still result in poor performance, especially in racehorses, resulting in possible negative consequences for the horses and their owners. The epidemiology and pathophysiology of the disease are not well described. We investigate the current knowledge and present possible risk factors that may predispose horses to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Early diagnosis is crucial, which is why current and future diagnostic modalities are discussed. ABSTRACT: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in horses causing poor performance. As in humans, the condition can be intermittent in nature, known as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF). This review covers the literature relating to pAF in horses and includes references to the human literature to compare pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic tools and treatment. The arrhythmia is diagnosed by auscultation and electrocardiography (ECG), and clinical signs can vary from sudden loss of racing performance to reduced fitness or no signs at all. If left untreated, pAF may promote electrical, functional and structural remodeling of the myocardium, thus creating a substrate that is able to maintain the arrhythmia, which over time may progress into permanent AF. Long-term ECG monitoring is essential for diagnosing the condition and fully understanding the duration and frequency of pAF episodes. The potential to adapt human cardiac monitoring systems and computational ECG analysis is therefore of interest and may benefit future diagnostic tools in equine medicine.