Hendrik Bonnemeier

Circadian Profile of Cardiac Autonomic Nervous Modulation in Healthy Subjects

Introduction: Although heart rate variability (HRV) has been established as a tool to study cardiac autonomic activity, almost no data are available on the circadian patterns of HRV in healthy subjects aged 20 to 70 years.

Effects of Gender and Aging on Differential Autonomic Responses to Orthostatic Maneuvers

Background: There are gender differences in heart rate and blood pressure response to postural change. Also, normal aging is often associated with diminished cardiac autonomic modulation during postural change from supine to upright position. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of these physiological alterations are not entirely understood.

Ventricular fibrillation induced by stretch pulse: implications for sudden death due to commotio cordis.

Introduction: Nonpenetrating chest wall impact (commotio cordis) may lead to sudden cardiac death due to the acute initiation of ventricular fibrillation (VF). VF may result from sudden stretch during a vulnerable window, which is determined by repolarization inhomogeneity.

Evolution of Cardiac Autonomic Nervous Activity Indices in Patients Presenting with Transient Left Ventricular Apical Ballooning

Backround: Transient left ventricular (LV) apical ballooning (AB) is characterized by a rapidly reversible, acute LV systolic dysfunction, triggered by physical or emotional stress. Despite observations strongly suggesting catecholamine‐mediated myocardial stunning due to enhanced sympathetic activity, the early time course of heart rate variability (HRV) has not been described.

Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm in the Post‐thrombolytic Era: Incidence, Prognostic Implications, and Modulating Mechanisms after Direct Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: In the thrombolytic era, the occurrence of accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIR) has been proposed to be a specific marker for successful reperfusion. The incidence, prognostic implications, and potential modulating mechanisms of AIR after successful restoration of antegrade flow by means of modern reperfusion therapy (i.e., direct percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)) has thus far not been investigated.

Quinidine for Pharmacological Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Analysis in 501 Consecutive Patients

Background: Although quinidine has been used to terminate atrial fibrillation (AFib) for a long time, it has been recently classified to be used as a third‐line‐drug for cardioversion. However, these recommendations are based on a few small studies, and there are no data available of a larger modern patient population undergoing pharmacological cardioversion of AFib. Therefore, we evaluated the safety of quinidine for cardioversion of paroxysmal AFib in patients after cardiac surgery and coronary intervention.

Impact of diabetes on QT dynamicity in patients with and without myocardial infarction: The KORA Family Heart Study.

Introduction: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an unfavorable prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI), partially due to a higher risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). QT dynamicity is an independent predictor of SCD in post‐MI patients. However, the effects of diabetes on QT dynamicity in patients with MI have not been described.

Low Doses of Intracoronary Enalaprilat Suppress Reperfusion-Associated Ventricular Arrhythmias after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: In the era of early reperfusion therapy, life‐threatening ventricular arrhythmias (VA) remain common after recanalization of an occluded coronary artery. Experimental studies reported that angiotensin‐converting (ACE) inhibitors suppress reperfusion‐induced VA. However, whether ACE inhibitors lower the incidence of reperfusion clinical VA is unknown. We examined the effects of low doses of intracoronary (i.c.) enalaprilat (EN) as an adjunct to direct percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) on reperfusion VA in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI).

Ventricular Repolarization Dynamics During Different Sleep Stages in the Subacute Phase of Myocardial Infarction

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction (MI) are often nocturnal. However, the arrhythmogenic effects of sleep after MI are unknown. We examined the effects of sleep stages on QT dynamicity and tested the hypothesis of a differential effect of sleep stage on the QT/RR relationship after recent MI, versus in healthy controls (HC).

Effects of Aging on Reflex Autonomic Nervous Response Induced by Orthostatic Maneuvers

Background: Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), exercise pressor reflex (EPR), and aging influence the autonomic nervous response associated with orthostatic maneuvers. Standing significantly increases heart rate (HR), with an initial increase (1.ΔHR) due to EPR and a secondary, more gradual increase (2.ΔHR) due to BRS. HR then decreases (3.ΔHR), which is also attributable to BRS. Thus far, however, few data are available regarding the interdependence of these variables.