Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance, affecting more than 2 million Americans, with an overall prevalence of 0.89%. The prevalence increases rapidly with age, to 2.3% between the ages of 40 and 60 years, ... Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance, affecting more than 2 million Americans, with an overall prevalence of 0.89%. The prevalence increases rapidly with age, to 2.3% between the ages of 40 and 60 years, and to 5.9% over the age of 65. The most dreaded complication is thromboembolic stroke (Brugada et al., 1997). Beyer et al. (1993) suggested that a familial form of atrial fibrillation is rare. - Genetic Heterogeneity of Familial Atrial Fibrillation ATFB1 shows linkage to chromosome 10q22-q24. ATFB2 (608988) maps to chromosome 6q. ATFB3 (607554) is caused by mutation in the KCNQ1 gene (607542) on chromosome 11, and ATFB4 (611493) is caused by mutation in the KCNE2 gene (603796) on chromosome 21. Variants in a region of chromosome 4q25 are associated with ATFB5 (611494). ATFB6 (612201) is caused by mutation in the NPPA gene (108780) on chromosome 1p36-p35. ATFB7 (612240) is caused by mutation in the KCNA5 gene (176267) on chromosome 12p13. ATFB8 (613055) maps to chromosome 16q22. ATFB9 (613980) is caused by mutation in the KCNJ2 gene (600681) on chromosome 17q24.3. ATFB10 (614022) is caused by mutation in the SCN5A gene (600163) on chromosome 3p21. ATFB11 (614049) is caused by mutation in the GJA5 (121013) gene on chromosome 1q21.1. ATFB12 (614050) is caused by mutation in the ABCC9 gene (601439) on chromosome 12p12.1. ATFB13 (615377) is caused by mutation in the SCN1B gene (600235) on chromosome 19q13. ATFB14 (615378) is caused by mutation in the SCN2B gene (601327) on chromosome 11q23.
Brugada et al. (1997) reported a Spanish family in which 10 members spanning 3 generations had atrial fibrillation segregating as an autosomal dominant trait. Nine family members had chronic atrial fibrillation and 1 had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Two ... Brugada et al. (1997) reported a Spanish family in which 10 members spanning 3 generations had atrial fibrillation segregating as an autosomal dominant trait. Nine family members had chronic atrial fibrillation and 1 had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Two additional members were known to have died from complications of atrial fibrillation, presumably embolic cerebrovascular accidents, at 36 and 68 years of age. Brugada et al. (1997) also reported 2 other Spanish families with a total of 9 affected members. The age at diagnosis of atrial fibrillation ranged from 2 to 46 years in the 3 families.