[Influence of sinus rhythm restoration and maintenance on left ventricle diameter and function in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation--one year follow-up].
Aim of our study was to determine the dynamics of selected echocardiographic parameters after sinus rhythm (SR) restoration and maintenance in pts with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) during one year follow-up period.


METHODS
Our study population comprised 104 pts (F/M 33/71; mean age 60.4 +/- 7.4) assigned to SR restoration and maintenance with serial antiarrhythmic drug usage, for whom transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) variables were recorded prior to, 2 and 12 months after cardioversion (CD). Left ventricle diastolic diameter and fractional shortening were variables of interest.


RESULTS
SR was presented in 66 (63.5%) pts at one year. There was no significant differences in left ventricle diastolic diameter during the follow up. A significant increase in left ventricular fractional shortening (29.9 +/- 6.9% vs 34.5 +/- 8.9%; p < 0.001) was found in pts assigned to the sinus rhythm restoration according to intention-to-treat analysis. Such trend was noted only in pts who maintained SR during the follow up (29.9 +/- 7.6% vs 35.6 +/- 9.3%; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Among all considered variables only value of left ventricular fractional shortening increased after successful CV of persistent AF in one year follow-up.
Kosior
Dariusz A
DA
Katedra i Klinika Kardiologii AM w Warszawie. cardiology@amwaw.edu.pl
Szulc
Marcin
M
Stawicki
Sławomir
S
Roik
Marek
M
Rabczenko
Daniel
D
Opolski
Grzegorz
G
D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D012849:Sinoatrial Node; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents