Frequency analysis in different types of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to investigate the regional frequency distribution from multiple bi-atrial sites in different types of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).


BACKGROUND
A previous study showed a left atrium (LA) to right atrium (RA) frequency gradient in patients with paroxysmal AF.


METHODS
Forty-four patients (age = 60 +/- 16, male patients = 27) with paroxysmal AF originating from the pulmonary veins (PVs) (n = 31) or superior vena cava (SVC) (n = 13) were included. Frequency analysis was performed on the intracardiac electrograms (7 s, 1 kHz/channel) recorded from PV, posterior LA, coronary sinus (CS), posterolateral RA, and SVC. The largest peak frequency was identified as the dominant frequency (DF).


RESULTS
In the PV-AF patients, there was a frequency gradient from the PV ostium to the LA, RA, and SVC (8.5 +/- 3.3 Hz vs. 5.9 +/- 1.1 Hz vs. 5.2 +/- 0.85 Hz vs. 5.5 +/- 0.48 Hz, respectively, p < 0.001). The highest DFs were mostly located at the arrhythmogenic PV ostium (58%). The DFs of the arrhythmogenic PV and PV ostium were significantly higher than those of the non-arrhythmogenic PVs and PV ostia (p < 0.05). In the SVC-AF patients, there was a frequency gradient from the SVC to the RA, LA, and PV (8.0 +/- 2.4 Hz vs. 5.9 +/- 1.1 Hz vs. 5.9 +/- 0.7 Hz vs. 5.8 +/- 0.7 Hz, respectively, p = 0.001). The highest DFs were mostly located inside the SVC (77%) instead of the SVC ostium (as compared with PV-AF patients, p = 0.035).


CONCLUSIONS
The location of the highest DF depended on the arrhythmogenic PV or SVC. A frequency gradient was present between the arrhythmogenic thoracic vein and atrium in all patients.
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yenn-Jiang
YJ
Lin
Ching-Tai
CT
Tai
Tsair
T
Kao
Han-Wen
HW
Tso
Satoshi
S
Higa
Hsuan-Ming
HM
Tsao
Shih-Lin
SL
Chang
Ming-Hsiung
MH
Hsieh
Shih-Ann
SA
Chen
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016275:Atrial Function; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000503:physiopathology