Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT). The misdiagnosed atrial arrhythmia of old age.
The clinical and electrocardiographic features of multifocal atrial tachycardia are described and illustrated by nine examples. It is almost entirely seen in later life and is often misdiagnosed as atrial fibrillation. It is associated with a high mortality and the majority of the cases described here reverted to sinus rhythm. Little attention has been so far paid to this important arrhythmia in the elderly in standard textbooks of cardiology. The literature is reviewed and management discussed. It is not a rare supreventricular tachycardia in the aged and many examples may be not diagnosed. It merits further study in relation to unanswered questions.
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy