Congestive heart failure induced by the combination of atrial fibrillation and tricuspid regurgitation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) may induce congestive heart failure (CHD). Using electrocardiography and echocardiography, we examined the clinical characteristics and haemodynamic findings in 100 patients with AF + TR + CHF, AF + TR, AF or TR. The fractional shortening in all groups with AF was significantly decreased compared with the TR group. The ejection fraction in patients with AF + TR + CHF was significantly lower than in the TR group. Twenty-four of the 72 patients with AF and TR (with or without CHF) were treated, and 13 were monitored for heart rate and severity of TR. Eight months after start of treatment the heart rate and typical symptoms and signs of heart failure had improved significantly in nine patients, but the severity of TR did not change. TR worsened in the remaining four patients but they did not develop CHF. Our results suggest that increased heart rate due to the combination of AF and TR could be responsible for CHF.
Kusaka
K
K
Department of General Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan.
Takahashi
T
T
Kotajima
N
N
Sekiguchi
K
K
Fukumura
Y
Y
Murakami
M
M
Kanda
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D004232:Diuretics