The solution: Gene painting. Researchers at MetroHealth Medical
Center in Cleveland, led by cardiac electrophysiologist Kevin
Donahue, have identified a gene that helps hearts beat normally.
They've packaged that gene inside a virus and put that virus
into a clear gel that's the consistency of toothpaste. When they
paint the gel onto an animal heart -- they use paintbrushes from
an art supply store -- the virus with the corrective gene works
its way into the heart and, within hours, the heart begins to
calm down. In about two days, it's beating normally again.
MetroHealth researchers are performing the open-heart procedure
on animal hearts now. But they've had such good results, they're
talking to the FDA about trying it in humans during heart
surgery, while they still have their chests open. A particular
type of abnormal heartbeat called atrial fibrillation is very
common after open-heart surgery; although often temporary, it
can lead to complications including stroke, longer hospital
stays and even death. D