title: [A new view of anatomic substrate, electrophysiological mechanisms of atrial fibrillation, and results of interventional treatment].
abstract: Literature data on anatomic and electrophysiological properties of pulmonary veins (PVs) are very scarce. The study included an investigation of 20 human autopsy hearts with and without cardiovascular pathology. In addition, biopsy samples from the right superior PV were taken from 5 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for ultrastructural study. The investigation found myocardial sleeves (MS) in 86.3% of cases, an additional PV between right PVs--in 15%, a collector type of superior and inferior PV--in 25% of cases. MS were situated on the adventitial side of PVs; along the whole length of the PVs the MS myocyte fascicles ran in different directions. Local changes, such as productive myocarditis, fibrosis and fibro-lipomatosis, were observed in MS of PV of patients with AF. 106 patients (80 of whom were male; middle age 42.9 +/- 12.5 years) with symptomatic AF underwent clinical examination. Electrophysiological features of the PVs were evaluated in 30 patients. Effective and functional refractory periods of PVs were found to be shorter than those of the left atrium and non-arrhythmogenic PVs. Radiofrequency ablation (RA) with application of electrophysiological criteria proved to be effective in all patients with frequent ectopy from PVs. The use of electroanatomical mapping allowed successful RA in 82% of patients with persistent and chronic AF. The study demonstrates that the changes in MS of PV, discovered by means of light and electron microscopy, as well as their complex three-dimensional morphological structure may cause and maintain AF. Very distinct electrophysiological features, found in AF patients, probably play a major role in arrhythmogenicity.
authors.forename: A Sh
authors.initials: ASh
authors.lastname: Revishvili
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Serov
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Imnadze
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bokeriia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012189:Retrospective Studies