 Health Guide Drug Guide Images Multifocal atrial tachycardiaDefinitionMultifocal atrial tachycardia is a rapid heart rate that occurs when too many signals (electrical impulses) are sent from the upper heart to the lower heart. CausesThe human heart gives off electrical impulses, or signals, which tell it to beat. Normally, these signals begin in an area of the upper right chamber called the sinoatrial node (sinus node or SA node). This node is considered the heart's "natural pacemaker." It helps control the heartbeat. When the heart detects a signal, it contracts (or beats). The normal heart rate in adults about 60 to 100 beats per minute. The normal heart rate is faster in children. In multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT), multiple locations within the heart fire signals at the same time. Too many signals lead to a rapid heart rate -- anywhere from 100 to 250 beats per minute. The rapid heart rate causes the heart to work too hard. If the heartbeat is very fast, the heart has less time to fill up with blood, so it doesn't have the right amount of blood to pump to the brain and the rest of the body. MAT is most common in people age 50 and over. It is often seen in people with conditions that lower the amount of oxygen in the blood. These conditions include:
You may be at higher risk for MAT if you have:
Symptoms
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: Exams and TestsAn examination shows a rapid heart beat of 100 to 180 beats per minute. Blood pressure is normal or low. There may be signs of poor circulation. Tests to diagnose MAT include:
Heart monitors are used to record the rapid heart beat. These include:
TreatmentIf you have a condition that can lead to MAT, that condition should be treated first. Treatment for MAT includes:
Outlook (Prognosis)MAT can be controlled if the condition that causes the rapid heart beat is treated and controlled. Possible Complications
When to Contact a Medical ProfessionalCall your health care provider if:
PreventionTo reduce the risk of developing MAT, promptly treat the disorders that cause it. ReferencesFerri FF. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006:540. Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002:1080-1081. Olgin JE, Zipes DP. In: Specific Arrhythmias: Diagnosis and Treatment. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2007: chap. 35.
Review Date:
5/12/2008 Reviewed By: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-
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