A recent study shows that a common oral pathogen may play a key role in the development of atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation.
Data show that the incidence of atrial fibrillation almost doubled from 2010 to 2019. Previous studies have pointed out that there may be a potential link between periodontitis and atrial fibrillation, but the specific pathogenic mechanism remains unclear.
To further explore this association, a research team from Hiroshima University in Japan conducted an in-depth study on Porphyromonas gingivalis, the migration of the bacteria in atrial tissue, and its relationship with atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation.
In animal experiments, the researchers used 13-week-old male C57BL/6J mice and introduced oral bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, by infecting their molars. They used loop-mediated isothermal amplification technology to detect whether the bacteria existed in the left atrium of mice.
At the same time, the research team also collected samples from 68 patients who underwent atrial fibrillation surgery and underwent preoperative periodontal examinations, and performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on the number of Porphyromonas gingivalis in their left atrial appendage tissue.
The results showed that this bacterium can be transferred from the mouth to the left atrium through the blood circulation. In experimental mice, compared with the uninfected control group, the infected group had more significant atrial fibrosis (21.9% vs. 16.3%) and a higher rate of abnormal atrial electrical activity (30% vs. 5%).
The researchers pointed out that Porphyromonas gingivalis can not only cause heart damage, but also accelerate the development of lesions. In human samples, the content of Porphyromonas gingivalis was positively correlated with the surface area of the periodontal epithelium (ρ = 0.35), the area of periodontal inflammation (ρ = 0.52) and the degree of atrial fibrosis (ρ = 0.38).
This study shows that periodontitis may not only be a local oral problem, but may also be a potential cause of atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation. Maintaining good oral hygiene habits not only helps maintain gum health, but may also play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease.
Researchers believe that periodontal pathogens may enter the heart through the blood, causing structural changes and scar formation in atrial tissue, thereby interfering with the normal conduction of cardiac electrical signals and triggering arrhythmias.
These findings provide new clues for further revealing the mechanism of arrhythmia, and also provide research directions for preventing heart disease by improving oral health in the future.
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