title: Non-invasive assessment of atrial fibrillation (AF) cycle length in man: potential application for studying AF.
abstract: Non-invasive assessment of the fibrillatory frequency of atrial fibrillation (AF) can be performed by frequency domain analysis. The peak frequency in the derived spectrum can be converted to a dominant atrial cycle length (DACL). The DACL can be altered through autonomic modulation or pharmacologic manipulation, but the change in DACL is less marked in those with a short DACL value. In patients with AF, those with a short duration of the arrhythmia have longer DACL values. Finally, patients with paroxysmal AF generally exhibit longer DACL values than patients with permanent AF. Thus non-invasive assessment of the atrial fibrillatory cycle length provides a useful index of atrial refractoriness and has the potential of clinical utility in patient assessment and treatment planning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Meurling
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sörnmo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stridh
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Olsson
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents