A study was recently published (authored in part by our own Bill Tyrrell, DVM, Steve Rosenthal, DVM, Mariellen Dentino and Frances Abrams) examining pedigrees for IWs with and without atrial fibrillation to identify possible modes of inheritance. Results of this study indicate a strong genetic contribution to atrial fibrillation in Irish Wolfhounds and suggest that future research to identify causative genetic mutations is warranted. The high heritability estimate obtained in Irish Wolfhounds suggests that genetic effects play an important role in disease expression. This may allow the disease to be carefully selected against to reduce its incidence in the breed.
Findings are consistent with a dominant mode of inheritance for atrial fibrillation in Irish Wolfhounds.
The full paper is located here.