title: Deterioration of interatrial conduction in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: electroanatomic mapping of the right atrium and coronary sinus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze the velocities across the coronary sinus ostium (cross-CSo) and within the coronary sinus (intra-CS) in patients with and without paroxysmal atrial (AF) fibrillation and to estimate the interatrial conduction deterioration area in AF patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Interatrial conduction delay in AF patients has been reported. However, localization of the interatrial conduction delay still is not clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients with paroxysmal AF and 10 control patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia or ectopic atrial tachycardia were enrolled in the study. Right atrial and CS mapping were performed using the CARTO electroanatomic mapping system during sinus rhythm and during distal CS pacing. The activation times and spatial distances of cross-CSo and intra-CS were measured between paired sites, from which the activation velocities of cross-CSo and intra-CS were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During sinus rhythm, the activation velocities of cross-CSo in the AF group (1.2 +/- 0.2 m/s) were significantly slower than those in the control group (2.9 +/- 1.6 m/s, P < .05). During distal CS pacing, the cross-CSo velocities of the AF group (1.0 +/- 0.5 m/s) also appeared slower than those in the control group (1.4 +/- 0.2 m/s, P = .07). However, no difference was found in intra-CS activation velocities between the two groups (2.8 +/- 1.9 vs 3.2 +/- 2.2 m/s and 1.5 +/- 0.3 vs 1.4 +/- 0.3 m/s, P > .05 during sinus rhythm and distal CS pacing, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interatrial conduction at the posteroparaseptal region across the CS ostium was significantly slower in patients with paroxysmal AF than in control patients, further supporting the link between interatrial conduction deterioration and paroxysmal AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Yunlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hertervig
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kongstad
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ljungström
authors.forename: Pyotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Platonov
authors.forename: Platonov
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pyotr
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Shiwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016275:Atrial Function / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008875:Middle Aged; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000503:physiopathology