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Hybrid ablation: a team effort with better outcomes

Hybrid ablation: a team effort with better outcomes

17 February 2023

The hybrid ablation treatment developed at Maastricht UMC+ leads to better results in persistent atrial fibrillation than the standard treatment, catheter ablation.

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People with diabetes who control risk factors are less likely to develop depression

People with diabetes who control risk factors are less likely to develop depression

9 February 2023

Someone with diabetes has an increased risk of depression, but may be able to limit it by addressing risk factors such as unhealthy diet and high blood pressure. This has emerged from research by scientists at Maastricht UMC+ who analyzed data from nearly 78,000 people.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Paul Volders

Professor

Prof. Paul Volders, CARIM Principal Investigator and Cardiologist, coordinates the cardiogenetic care of patients with inherited cardiomyopathies, including those with inherited arrhythmias, at Maastricht UMC+. Within this clinical-experimental environment, the active research projects of his PI team focus on novel pathogenetic insights and improved management of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest.

Paul Volders defended his PhD thesis 'Cellular Mechanisms of Acquired Torsades de Pointes in the Hypertrophied Canine Heart: The Substrate and the Trigger' in Maastricht in 1999 (cum laude). Since 2015 he is Professor of Genetic Cardiology.

Traditionally, the Volders team has focussed on the electrophysiological characterisation of arrhythmia substrates in inherited cardiomyopathies and in acquired cardiac overload, compensated hypertrophy and failure. While these studies continue at the cellular, intact-animal and patient level, increasing research activities are directed to:


(1) intracellular signaling pathways determining ion-channel function;
(2) the genetic and genomic basis of cardiac arrhythmias; and
(3) systems biology to integrate the basic molecular and functional determinants of arrhythmia syndromes with the clinical characteristics of individual patients, to provide better risk management and treatment.

The group has active research connections with other CARIM PI groups and many international colleagues.

Prof. Paul Volders is a past ZonMw Veni and Vidi laureate, and a Dutch Heart Foundation Junior-Staff member. Currently, he participates as work-package leader in the CVON Consortium Project PREDICT, on predicting sudden cardiac arrest, and he is the research leader of the CVON Consortium Project VIGILANCE, on idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. Several of his team members achieved personal grants (ZonMw Veni, Dutch Heart Foundation junior postdoc). Besides, he ran multiple investigator-initiated studies that were funded by industry. He is a past-chairman of the ESC Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology (2012-2014), and a past Working-Group Representative at the Board of the European Heart Rhythm Association (2011-2018).

He is (co-)author on 90 scientific articles, with 5673citations and H-index of 39.

Paul-volders

Department of Cardiology
P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht 
PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht
Room number: 3.C2.025
T: +31(0)43 387 51 06

  • 2022
    • Hoorntje, E. T., Burns, C., Marsili, L., Corden, B., Parikh, V. N., Te Meerman, G. J., Gray, B., Adiyaman, A., Bagnall, R. D., Barge-Schaapveld, D. Q. C. M., van den Berg, M. P., Bootsma, M., Bosman, L. P., Correnti, G., Duflou, J., Eppinga, R. N., Fatkin, D., Fietz, M., Haan, E., ... Ingles, J. (2022). Variant Location Is a Novel Risk Factor for Individuals With Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Due to a Desmoplakin (DSP) Truncating Variant. Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, e003672. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCGEN.121.003672
    • Groeneveld, S. A., Verheul, L. M., van der Ree, M. H., Mulder, B. A., Scholten, M. F., Alings, M., van der Voort, P., Bootsma, M., Evertz, R., Balt, J. C., Yap, S-C., Doevendans, P. A. F. M., Postema, P. G., Wilde, A. A. M., Volders, P. G. A., & Hassink, R. J. (2022). The Importance of Systematic Diagnostic Testing in Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: Results From the Dutch iVF-Registry. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2022.10.003
    • Odening, K. E., van der Linde, H. J., Ackerman, M. J., Volders, P. G. A., & Ter Bekke, R. M. A. (2022). Electromechanical reciprocity and arrhythmogenesis in long-QT syndrome and beyond. European Heart Journal, 43(32), 3018-3028. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehac135
    • Verheul, L. M., Groeneveld, S. A., Kirkels, F. P., Volders, P. G. A., Teske, A. J., Cramer, M. J., Guglielmo, M., & Hassink, R. J. (2022). State-of-the-Art Multimodality Imaging in Sudden Cardiac Arrest with Focus on Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: A Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(16), [4680]. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11164680
    • Barc, J., Tadros, R., Glinge, C., Chiang, D. Y., Jouni, M., Simonet, F., Jurgens, S. J., Baudic, M., Nicastro, M., Potet, F., Offerhaus, J. A., Walsh, R., Choi, S. H., Verkerk, A. O., Mizusawa, Y., Anys, S., Minois, D., Arnaud, M., Duchateau, J., ... KORA-Study Group (2022). Author Correction: Genome-wide association analyses identify new Brugada syndrome risk loci and highlight a new mechanism of sodium channel regulation in disease susceptibility. Nature Genetics, 54(5), 735-735. [735]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01079-y
    • Barc, J., Tadros, R., Glinge, C., Chiang, D. Y., Jouni, M., Simonet, F., Jurgens, S. J., Baudic, M., Nicastro, M., Potet, F., Offerhaus, J. A., Walsh, R., Choi, S. H., Verkerk, A. O., Mizusawa, Y., Anys, S., Minois, D., Arnaud, M., Duchateau, J., ... KORA-Study Group (2022). Genome-wide association analyses identify new Brugada syndrome risk loci and highlight a new mechanism of sodium channel regulation in disease susceptibility. Nature Genetics, 54(3), 232-239. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-021-01007-6
    • Malheiro, A., Harichandan, A., Bernardi, J., Seijas-Gamardo, A., Konings, G. F., Volders, P. G. A., Romano, A., Mota, C., Wieringa, P., & Moroni, L. (2022). 3D culture platform of human iPSCs-derived nociceptors for peripheral nerve modeling and tissue innervation. Biofabrication, 14(1), [014105]. https://doi.org/10.1088/1758-5090/ac36bf
    • Cluitmans, M., Coll-Font, J., Erem, B., Bear, L., Nguyên, U. C., Ter Bekke, R., Volders, P. G. A., & Brooks, D. (2022). Spatiotemporal approximation of cardiac activation and recovery isochrones. Journal of Electrocardiology, 71, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2021.12.007
  • 2021
    • Ravens, U., Gomez, A. M., Heijman, J., Remme, C. A., Dobrev, D., Smith, G., Volders, P. G. A., Cerbai, E., Eisner, D. A., Casadei, B., Zaza, A., Richard, S., Mugelli, A., Vassort, G., Brown, H. F., & Sipido, K. R. (2021). Edward Carmeliet (1930-2021)-channelling scientific curiosity: a tribute from the ESC Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology†. Cardiovascular Research, 117(14), e171-e173. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvab333
    • Schwartz, P. J., Moreno, C., Kotta, M-C., Pedrazzini, M., Crotti, L., Dagradi, F., Castelletti, S., Haugaa, K. H., Denjoy, I., Shkolnikova, M. A., Brink, P. A., Heradien, M. J., Seyen, S. R. M., Spätjens, R. L. H. M. G., Spazzolini, C., & Volders, P. G. A. (2021). Mutation location and I-Ks requlation in the arrhythmic risk of long QT syndrome type 1: the importance of the KCNQ1 S6 region. European Heart Journal, 42(46), 4743-4755. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab582
    • Cluitmans, M. J. M., Bear, L. R., Nguyên, U. C., van Rees, B., Stoks, J., Ter Bekke, R. M. A., Mihl, C., Heijman, J., Lau, K. D., Vigmond, E., Bayer, J., Belterman, C. N. W., Abell, E., Labrousse, L., Rogier, J., Bernus, O., Haïssaguerre, M., Hassink, R. J., Dubois, R., ... Volders, P. G. A. (2021). Noninvasive detection of spatiotemporal activation-repolarization interactions that prime idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. Science Translational Medicine, 13(620), [eabi9317]. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abi9317
    • Van Rees, B., Stoks, J., Nguyen, Y. C., Ter Bekke, R. M. A., Mihl, C., Cluitmans, M., & Volders, P. G. A. (2021). Local areas of earlier repolarization cause epicardial repolarization heterogeneity in patients with apparently idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. European Heart Journal, 42, 326-326.
    • Mellor, G. J., Blom, L. J., Groeneveld, S. A., Winkel, B. G., Ensam, B., Bargehr, J., van Rees, B., Scrocco, C., Krapels, I. P. C., Volders, P. G. A., Tfelt-Hansen, J., Krahn, A. D., Hassink, R. J., & Behr, E. R. (2021). Familial Evaluation in Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: Diagnostic Yield and Significance of J Wave Syndromes. Circulation-Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 14(3), 296-305. [009089]. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCEP.120.009089
    • Walsh, R., Lahrouchi, N., Tadros, R., Kyndt, F., Glinge, C., Postema, P. G., Amin, A. S., Nannenberg, E. A., Ware, J. S., Whiffin, N., Mazzarotto, F., Skoric-Milosavljevic, D., Krijger, C., Arbelo, E., Babuty, D., Barajas-Martinez, H., Beckmann, B. M., Bezieau, S., Bos, J. M., ... Nantes Referral Center for inherited cardiac arrhythmia (2021). Enhancing rare variant interpretation in inherited arrhythmias through quantitative analysis of consortium disease cohorts and population controls. Genetics in Medicine, 23(1), 47-58. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-020-00946-5
  • 2020
    • Stoks, J., Chau Nguyen, U., Peeters, R., Volders, P., & Cluitmans, M. (2020). An Open-Source Algorithm for Standardized Bullseye Visualization of High-Resolution Cardiac Ventricular Data: UNISYS. Computing in Cardiology, 47, 1-4. [160]. https://doi.org/10.22489/CinC.2020.160
    • Stoks, J., Van Rees, B., Groeneveld, S., Schipaanboord, D., Blom, L., Hassink, R., Cluitmans, M., Peeters, R., & Volders, P. (2020). Variability of Electrocardiographic Imaging Within and Between Leadsets. Computing in Cardiology, 47, 1-4. [097]. https://doi.org/10.22489/CinC.2020.097
    • Pinto-Sietsma, S. J., Flossdorf, M., Buchholz, V. R., Offerhaus, J., Bleijendaal, H., Beudel, M., Volders, P. G. A., ter Bekke, R. M. A., Dormans, T., Zwetsloot, P. P., de Jager, P., Massberg, S., Ramer, P., Wendtner, C., Hoffmann, E., Rothe, K., Feihl, S., Kessler, T., Pinto, Y. M., ... Pinto, Y. (2020). Antihypertensive drugs in COVID-19 infection. European Heart Journal-Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy, 6(6), 415-416. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjcvp/pvaa058
    • Stoks, J., Van Rees, B. D., Nguyen, U. C., Peeters, R. L. M., Dendale, P., Cluitmans, M. J. M., & Volders, P. G. A. (2020). Noninvasive assessment of dynamic cardiac electrophysiology in normal human subjects. European Heart Journal, 41(S2), 3596-3596. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.3596
    • Sutanto, H., Cluitmans, M. J. M., Dobrev, D., Volders, P. G. A., Bébarová, M., & Heijman, J. (2020). Acute effects of alcohol on cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmogenesis: Insights from multiscale in silico analyses. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 146, 69-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2020.07.007
    • Guns, P-J. D., Guth, B. D., Braam, S., Kosmidis, G., Matsa, E., Delaunois, A., Gryshkova, V., Bernasconi, S., Knot, H. J., Shemesh, Y., Chen, A., Markert, M., Fernandez, M. A., Lombardi, D., Grandmont, C., Cillero-Pastor, B., Heeren, R. M. A., Martinet, W., Woolard, J., ... Valentin, J-P. (2020). INSPIRE: A European training network to foster research and training in cardiovascular safety pharmacology. Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods, 105, [106889]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vascn.2020.106889
    • Altrocchi, C., de Korte, T., Bernardi, J., Spatjens, R. L. H. M. G., Braam, S. R., Heijman, J., Zaza, A., & Volders, P. G. A. (2020). Repolarization instability and arrhythmia by I-Kr block in single human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and 2D monolayers. EP Europace, 22(9), 1431-1441. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa111
    • ter Bekke, R. M. A., & Volders, P. G. A. (2020). Haloperidol and sudden death in first acute myocardial infarction. IJC Heart & Vasculature, 26, [100482]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcha.2020.100482
    • Blom, L. J., Groeneveld, S. A., Wulterkens, B. M., van Rees, B., Nguyen, U. C., Roudijk, R. W., Cluitmans, M., Volders, P. G. A., & Hassink, R. J. (2020). Novel use of repolarization parameters in electrocardiographic imaging to uncover arrhythmogenic substrate. Journal of Electrocardiology, 59, 116-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2020.02.003
  • 2019
    • Blom, L. J., Visser, M., Christiaans, I., Scholten, M. F., Bootsma, M., van den Berg, M. P., Yap, S-C., van der Heijden, J. F., Doevendans, P. A., Loh, P., Postema, P. G., Barge-Schaapsveld, D. Q., Hofman, N., Volders, P. G. A., Wilde, A. A., & Hassink, R. J. (2019). Incidence and predictors of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy and its complications in idiopathic ventricular fibrillation patients. EP Europace, 21(10), 1519-1526. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euz151
    • Bosman, L. P., Verstraelen, T. E., van Lint, F. H. M., Cox, M. G. P. J., Groeneweg, J. A., Mast, T. P., van der Zwaag, P. A., Volders, P. G. A., Evertz, R., Wong, L., de Groot, N. M. S., Zeppenfeld, K., van der Heijden, J. F., van den Berg, M. P., Wilde, A. A. M., Asselbergs, F. W., Hauer, R. N. W., te Riele, A. S. J. M., van Tintelen, J. P., ... The Netherlands Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Registry (2019). The Netherlands Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Registry: design and status update. Netherlands Heart Journal, 27(10), 480-486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-019-1270-1
    • ter Bekke, R. M. A., Moers, A. M. E., de Jong, M. M. J., Johnson, D. M., Schwartz, P. J., Vanoli, E., & Volders, P. G. A. (2019). Proarrhythmic proclivity of left-stellate ganglion stimulation in a canine model of drug-induced long-QT syndrome type 1. International Journal of Cardiology, 286, 66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.01.098
    • Cluitmans, M. J. M., Stoks, J., & Volders, P. G. A. (2019). To the Editor-Interpretation of electrograms is key to understand the clinical potential of ECGI. Heart Rhythm, 16(6), E51-E52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2019.02.030
    • Nguyen, U. C., Cluitmans, M. J. M., Strik, M., Luermans, J. G., Gommers, S., Wildberger, J. E., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Volders, P. G. A., Mihl, C., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2019). Integration of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiographic imaging, and coronary venous computed tomography angiography for guidance of left ventricular lead positioning. EP Europace, 21(4), 626-635. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euy292
  • 2018
    • Cluitmans, M., Karel, J., Bonizzi, P., Volders, P., Westra, R., & Peeters, R. (2018). Wavelet-promoted sparsity for non-invasive reconstruction of electrical activity of the heart. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 56(11), 2039-2050. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-018-1831-2
    • Ter Bekke, R. M. A., David, M., Krapels, I. P. C., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Volders, P. G. A. (2018). Beauty and the beat: A complicated case of multifocal ectopic Purkinje-related premature contractions. HeartRhythm Case Reports, 4(9), 429-433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrcr.2018.05.010
    • Clerx, M., Heijman, J., Collins, P., & Volders, P. G. A. (2018). Predicting changes to I-Na from missense mutations in human SCN5A. Scientific Reports, 8(1), [12797]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30577-5
    • Blom, L. J., Volders, P. G. A., Wilde, A. A., & Hassink, R. J. (2018). Life-long tailoring of diagnosis and management of patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation-future perspectives in research. Netherlands Heart Journal, 26(7-8), 367-374. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-018-1123-3
    • Conte, G., Caputo, M. L., Volders, P. G. A., Luca, A., Mainardi, L., Schotten, U., Corino, V. D. A., Regoli, F., Zeemering, S., Zink, M., Yazdani, S., Kappenberger, L., Moccetti, T., Vesin, J-M., & Auricchio, A. (2018). Concealed abnormal atrial phenotype in patients with Brugada syndrome and no history of atrial fibrillation. International Journal of Cardiology, 253, 66-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.09.214
    • Nguyen, U., Weijs, B., Luyten, P., Blokzijl, C., Witsenburg, M., Volders, P., & Bekkers, B. (2018). Late complications of an atrial septal occluder provoked by anticoagulant therapy. Journal of Cardiology Cases, 17(2), 68-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jccase.2017.09.010
  • 2017
    • ter Bekke, R. M. A., Isaacs, A., Barysenka, A., Hoos, M. B., Jongbloed, J. D. H., Hoorntje, J. C. A., Patelski, A. S. M., Helderman-van den Enden, A. T. J. M., van den Wijngaard, A., Stoll, M., & Volders, P. G. A. (2017). Heritability in a SCN5A-mutation founder population with increased female susceptibility to non-nocturnal ventricular tachyarrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Heart Rhythm, 14(12), 1873-1881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2017.07.036
    • Hoorntje, E. T., Bollen, I. A., Barge-Schaapveld, D. Q., van Tienen, F. H., te Meerman, G. J., Jansweijer, J. A., van Essen, A. J., Volders, P. G., Constantinescu, A. A., van den Akker, P. C., van Spaendonck-Zwarts, K. Y., Oldenburg, R. A., Marcelis, C. L., van der Smagt, J. J., Hennekam, E. A., Vink, A., Bootsma, M., Aten, E., Wilde, A. A., ... van Tintelen, J. P. (2017). Lamin A/C-Related Cardiac Disease Late Onset With a Variable and Mild Phenotype in a Large Cohort of Patients With the Lamin A/C p.(Arg331Gln) Founder Mutation. Circulation : Cardiovascular Genetics, 10(4), [001631]. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.116.001631
    • Cluitmans, M. J. M., Clerx, M., Vandersickel, N., Peeters, R. L. M., Volders, P. G. A., & Westra, R. L. (2017). Physiology-based regularization of the electrocardiographic inverse problem. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 55(8), 1353-1365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-016-1595-5
    • Cluitmans, M. J. M., Bonizzi, P., Karel, J. M. H., Das, M., Kietselaer, B. L. J. H., Jong, M. M. J. D., Prinzen, F. W., Peeters, R. L. M., Westra, R. L., & Volders, P. G. A. (2017). In Vivo Validation of Electrocardiographic Imaging. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 3(3), 232 - 242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2016.11.012
  • 2016
    • Claes, G. R. F., van Tienen, F. H. J., Lindsey, P., Krapels, I. P. C., van den Enden, A., Hoos, M., Barrois, Y. E. G., Janssen, J., Paulussen, A. D. C., Sels, J-W. E. M., Kuijpers, S. H. H., van Tintelen, J. P., van den Berg, M. P., Heesen, W. F., Garcia-Pavia, P., Perrot, A., Christiaans, I., Salemink, S., Marcelis, C. L. M., ... van den Wijngaard, A. (2016). Hypertrophic remodelling in cardiac regulatory myosin light chain (MYL2) founder mutation carriers. European Heart Journal, 37(23), 1815-1822. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehv522
    • Baumert, M., Porta, A., Vos, M. A., Malik, M., Couderc, J-P., Laguna, P., Piccirillo, G., Smith, G. L., Tereshchenko, L. G., & Volders, P. G. A. (2016). QT interval variability in body surface ECG: measurement, physiological basis, and clinical value: position statement and consensus guidance endorsed by the European Heart Rhythm Association jointly with the ESC Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology. EP Europace, 18(6), 925-944. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euv405
    • Wellens, H., Lindemans, F. W., Houben, R. P., Gorgels, A., Volders, P. G., ter Bekke, R. M. A., & Crijns, H. J. (2016). Improving survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest requires new tools. European Heart Journal, 37(19), 1499-1503. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehv485
    • ten Sande, J. N., Postema, P. G., Boekholdt, S. M., Tan, H. L., van der Heijden, J. F., de Groot, N. M. S., Volders, P. G. A., Zeppenfeld, K., Boersma, L. V. A., Nannenberg, E. A., Christiaans, I., & Wilde, A. A. M. (2016). Detailed characterization of familial idiopathic ventricular fibrillation linked to the DPP6 locus. Heart Rhythm, 13(4), 905-912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.12.006
    • Clerx, M., Collins, P., De Lange, E., & Volders, P. G. A. (2016). Myokit: A simple interface to cardiac cellular electrophysiology. Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology, 120(1-3), 100-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.12.008
  • 2015
    • Verstraelen, T. E., Ter Bekke, R. M., Volders, P. G., Masclee, A. A. M., & Kruimel, J. W. (2015). The role of the SCN5A-encoded channelopathy in irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders. Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 27(7), 906-913. https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.12569
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