Fibrillation

Fibrillation in the glossary for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

The most common type of heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) that can interrupt normal blood flow.

Fibrillation describes a muscular twitching involving individual muscle fibres or cell acting without coordination. In the context of the heart, atrial fibrillation is marked by rapid randomized contractions of the atrial myocardium, causing a totally irregular rapid atrial rate. It is recognizable on an electrocardiogram by the absence of P waves and an irregular ventricular response. It may be controlled by drug therapy cardioversion.¹

Glossary overview

References

1.Miller-Keane and O’tool M. Miller Kean Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health. 2003: 7th Edition. Elsevier eBook on VitalScience. Available from; https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/. Accessed November 12th, 2021

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