Acute binge alcohol increases risk of arrhythmias and myocardial fibrosis in a mouse model of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy

We report that acute binge alcohol consumption in a robust mouse model of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) significantly elevated ventricular arrhythmias, mortality, cardiomyocyte cell death via the loss of nuclear HMGB1, and extensive myocardial fibrosis. These findings demonstrate that binge drinking may serve as an environmental factor that contributes to disease progression in subjects with ACM, highlighting the need for clinical awareness regarding alcohol use in this vulnerable population.