Patterns of activation in human atrial fibrillation.
The electrophysiological properties within the pulmonary vein (PV) and PV-left atrial (LA) junction were evaluated using a basket catheter in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The effective refractory period of the distal PV was significantly shorter than that of the PV-LA junction. The conduction delay from the distal to proximal PV was significantly longer than that from the proximal to distal PV. During initiation of AF, a reentry involving exit and entrance breakthrough points at the PV-LA junction was observed. The presence of anisotropic conduction properties at the PV-LA junction may be critical to promote reentry formation.
Kumagai
Koichiro
K
Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. kxk@fukuoka-u.ac.jp
D000200:Action Potentials; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000295:instrumentation; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012032:Refractory Period, Electrophysiological; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors