Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42755424›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in cardiovascular medicine2026

Connective tissue disorders and cardiac arrhythmias: genetic pathways, mechanistic bridges, and clinical implications.

Luke Dreher, Hussein Abdul Nabi, Ramzi Ibrahim, Mahmoud Abdelnabi, Omar Baqal, Christopher N Kanaan, Min Choon Tan, Linnea M Baudhuin, Fadi E Shamoun, Hicham Z El Masry

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Luke DreherDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Hussein Abdul NabiDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Ramzi IbrahimDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Mahmoud AbdelnabiDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Omar BaqalDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Christopher N KanaanDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Min Choon TanDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Linnea M BaudhuinDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.
Fadi E ShamounDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Hicham Z El MasryDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Connective tissue disorders (CTDs) such as Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are traditionally defined by vascular fragility and aortic complications. Increasing evidence, however, demonstrates that CTDs also predispose to atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, often independent of overt cardiomyopathy or severe valvular disease. Content: This review integrates emerging data on the arrhythmogenic substrates of CTDs. Four mechanistic bridges are emphasized: (1) diffuse myocardial fibrosis driven by dysregulated TGF-β signaling, (2) structural valve and annular abnormalities, particularly mitral valve prolapse and mitral annular disjunction, (3) altered mechanotransduction linking extracellular matrix instability to cytoskeletal and nuclear signaling pathways, and (4) downstream ion-channel and gap-junction remodeling as secondary amplifiers. We outline the genetic architecture underlying these processes, focusing on established CTD-implicated genes in the TGF-β/SMAD pathway, valve and annulus regulators, cytoskeletal and myocyte-coupling proteins, and extracellular matrix components, while incorporating emerging CTD modifiers that expand the spectrum of arrhythmia susceptibility. Summary: Recognition of CTDs as both vascular and electrical disorders reframes clinical management. Imaging markers such as mitral annular disjunction and diffuse fibrosis, together with targeted ambulatory rhythm monitoring and consideration of genetic context, may improve recognition of higher-risk phenotypes. Therapeutic strategies must balance arrhythmia control with procedural risk in fragile connective tissue substrates. Conclusions: By unifying genetic, mechanistic, and clinical insights, this review provides an integrated framework for understanding arrhythmias in CTDs. It underscores the need for prospective registries and genotype-phenotype studies to refine surveillance and prevention strategies.

Indexed as

cardiac arrhythmiasconnective tissue disordersextracellular matrixfibrosismechanotransductionmitral annular disjunctionmitral valve prolapseTGF-β signaling

Identifiers

PMID42755424
PMCPMC13581506

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.