Hypothermia/Rewarming Disrupts E-C Coupling

What is the connection between Tromso, Norway, hypothermia, rewarming, heart failure…and AJP-Heart and Circ? Listen to this fascinating new podcast as Associate Editor Leon De Windt (Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht) interviews lead author Gary Sieck (Mayo Clinic) and content expert Jolanda van der Velden (VU University Medical Center Amsterdam) about the intriguing and entirely unique work by Schaible at al, which explores how to protect the heart during rewarming after hypothermia. Whatever the cause of hypothermia—falling into a fjord, skiing accident—inadequate rewarming at a trauma center and/or restarting the heart in the field by first responders can both lead to heart failure. Listen as we discuss how hypothermia can inhibit the SERCA pump, as well as affect the sodium-calcium exchanger, slowing the clearance of calcium. Is it possible for a hypothermic person in asystole, if CPR is administered to restore circulation, to later be rewarmed and survive without any deficits or long-term side effects? Listen and find out.

Niccole Schaible, Young Soo Han, Thuy Hoang, Grace Arteaga, Torkjel Tveita, Gary Sieck Hypothermia/rewarming disrupts excitation-contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published June 1, 2016. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00840.2015