title: Regular supraventricular tachycardias associated with idiopathic atrial fibrillation.
abstract: The present study analyzed the recurrence rate of idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) after elimination by radiofrequency ablation of the substrate for a regular tachycardia. Forty consecutive patients with idiopathic AF and a history of regular palpitations or documented regular tachyarrhythmias were prospectively included. Regular tachyarrhythmias were induced in 82.5% of patients: atrial flutter (42.4% of the inducible arrhythmias), atrial tachycardia (24.2%), atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentry (18.2%), AV reentry through a concealed accessory pathway (9.1%), and AV nodal reentry associated with right atrial tachycardia (6.1%). Dual AV node physiology with single or dual AV node echoes was demonstrated in 6.1% of patients without inducible arrhythmias. During follow-up (92 +/- 11 months), AF recurred in 19.2% of patients after successful radiofrequency ablation and in 69.2% after unsuccessful or not performed procedures (p <0.05). Left atrial diameter did not change after successful ablation but increased significantly in the population without elimination of the substrate (initial diameter 37.5 +/- 2 mm, final diameter 46.4 +/- 3.2 mm; p <0.05). In conclusion, the systematic search for the substrate of regular tachyarrhythmias followed by their elimination by catheter ablation reduces the recurrence of idiopathic AF in patients with a history of regular palpitations or documented regular tachyarrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Argerich Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. jgz1953@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Zuelgaray
authors.forename: America
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000209:etiology; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents