Electrophysiology

Our research in this area has focused on the following: characterization of potassium ion channel function as it relates to cardiac repolarization and the long QT syndrome; elucidation of mechanisms underlying paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; and development of clinical ablation for treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation based in part on analyses utilizing single cell electrophysiology and superfused tissue physiology.

The development of mapping and ablation techniques for treatment of arrhythmias following repair of complex congenital heart disease, atriotomy, accessory AV pathways has led to improved treatment of diverse arrhythmias.

Recent Grant Support

9/97-8/2003  N.I.H. K 08 – Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award
7-K08-HL03670-02; “Molecular Mechanisms of HERG Potassium Channel Function”

Representative Publications

Sanguinetti MC, Curran ME, Zou A, Shen J, Spector PS, Atkinson DL, Keating MT.  Coassembly of K(V)LQT1 and minK (IsK) proteins to form cardiac I(Ks) potassium channel.  Nature 1996 Nov 7; 384(6604):80-3.    

Spector PS, Curran ME, Zou A, Keating MT, Sanguinetti MC.  Fast inactivation causes rectification of the  Ikr channel.  J Gen  Physiol 1996 May; 107(5):611-9

Sanguinetti MC, Curran ME, Spector PS, Keating MT.  Spectrum of HERTG K+- Channel Dysfunction in an Inherited Cardiac Arrhythmias.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1996 Mar 5; 93(5):2208-12

Spector PS, Curran ME, Keating MT, Sanguinetti MC.  Class III Antiarrhythmic Drugs Block HERG, a Human Cardiac Delayed Rectifier K+ Channel.  Open-Channel Block by Methanesulfonanilides.  Circ Res 1996 Mar; 78(3): 499-503.

Sanguinetti MC, Spector PS.  Potassium channelopathies.  Neuropharmacology 1997 Jun; 36(6):755-62.

Nakagawa H, Shah N, Matsudaira K, Overholt E, Chandrasekaran K, Beckman KJ, Spector PS, Calame JD, Rao A, Hasdemir C, Otomo K, Wang Z, Lazzara R, Jackman WM.  Characterization of reentrant circuit in macroreentrant right atrial tachycardia after surgical repair of congenital heart disease. Isolated channels between scars allow “focal” ablation.  Circulation 2001 Feb; 103:699-709.

Lustgarten DL, Spector PS.  Ablation strategies reflect evolving concepts of atrial fibrillation mechanisms. J Electrocardiol 2001; 34:129-134

Sun Y, Arruda MS, Otomo K, Beckman KJ, Nakagawa H, Calame J, Po S, Spector PS, Lustgarten D, Herring L, Lazzara R, Jackman WM. Coronary Sinus-Ventricular Accessory Connections Producing Posteroseptal and Left Posterior Accessory Pathways: Incidence and Electrophysiological Identification. Circulation 2002, 106: 1362-1367.

McLean SA, Paul ID, Spector PS.  Lidocaine-induced conduction disturbance in patients with systemic hyperkalemia. Ann Emerg Med. 2000 Dec;36(6):615-8.

Otomo K, Wang Z, Beckman KJ, Spector PS, Nakagawa H, Matsudaira K, Patterson E, Lazzara R, Jackman WM.  The Reentry Circuit for Slow/Fast AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia.  In: Atrial-AV Nodal Electrophysiology: A View From the Millennium.  Mazgalev TN, Tchou PN, eds., Futura Publishing Co, Armonk, NY 2000, pp 421-436