Neurocardiology
Multidisciplinary medicine is an important approach towards quality care. It avoids isolated diagnostic and treatment pathways. The interface between heart and brain is important to understand in order to treat our patients effectively. The specialty that deals with the brain-heart connection has become known as neurocardiology [1].
This field of medicine studies the interaction of baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability, cardiac arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies to name a few [2].
In this special issue “Neurocardiology”, leading experts discuss the various disease models in which the nervous systems interacts extensively with the cardiovascular systems. Cardioembolic stroke is discussed extensively with focus on non-valvular atrial fibrillation as well as valvular heart disease. Epilepsy and its impact of cardiac events is discussed with a disease model of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Therapeutic options such as novel oral anticoagulants are evaluated in detail as well. Neuromuscular disorders leading to cardiomyopathies are also discussed. This issue will provide an understanding of the common disease processes where heart and brain interact significantly.
