Can simple Doppler measurements estimate interatrial conduction time?
Prolongation of the interatrial conduction time (ia-CT) is considered an important factor in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) and as a criterion to perform multisite atrial pacing. Measurement of ia-CT requires an electrophysiologic study. The aim of this study was to compare echocardiographic with electrophysiologic measurements to determine if they are correlated.


RESULTS
The study included 32 consecutive patients who underwent electrophysiologic studies. We measured ia-CT between the high right atrium and the distal coronary sinus. In all patients we measured P wave duration, left atrial diameter and area, and ia-CT by Doppler echocardiography was measured as the difference in time intervals between the QRS onset and the tricuspid A wave, and the QRS onset and the mitral A wave (DT). Ia-CT was statistically correlated with DT (r = 0.79, P < 0.0001), but not with P wave duration or left atrial dimensions.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement DT may be reliable to estimate ia-CT without invasive procedure. Accordingly, DT could be used as a simple selection criterion when considering patients for atrial resynchronization therapy.
Cozma
Dragos
D
Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine, Str. Gheorghe Adam nr. 13a, Timisoara, Romania. dragoscozmafr@yahoo.fr
Kalifa
Jerome
J
Pescariu
Sorin
S
Lighezan
Daniel
D
Stiubei
Marcel
M
Luca
Constantin Tudor
CT
Deharo
Jean-Claude
JC
Djiane
Pierre
P
Dragulescu
Stefan-Iosif
SI
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000294:innervation*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged