Tumor necrosis factor-a: a new mechanism of ischemicventricular fibrillation?

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) in myocardial is chemia iscalled "ischemic VF". As a severe morbid state and a leading cause of sudden cardiac attack, ischemic VF induces approximately 3 million deaths in the United States each year. Ischemic VF is caused by "triggers" such as ventricular premature beat or ventricular tachycardia in the presence of a suitable "substrate". The triggers frequently occur at the border zone and thesubstrate is required for the maintenance of ischemic VF.