title: Left atrial volume is a predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is not uncommon, and the predictors of AF recurrence are not completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and echocardiographic factors associated with AF recurrence after RFCA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight patients with AF who had undergone RFCA were enrolled. Echocardiographic parameters, including the size of the left ventricle and both atria, left ventricular and left atrial function, and clinical parameters were assessed. Six months after RFCA, 53 (78%) of the 68 patients were free of AF and 15 patients showed AF recurrence. Patients without AF recurrence had a greater frequency of paroxysmal AF compared with patients with recurrence (P = .04). Left atrial volume (P = .00) and right atrial volume (P = .01) were associated with AF recurrence. Multivariate analysis revealed that left atrial volume was the only predictor of AF recurrence after RFCA (P = .01). Left atrial volume of 34 mL/m(2) showed a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 91% to predict AF recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Left atrial volume could be used as a predictor of AF recurrence after RFCA. Left atrial volume of 34 mL/m(2) had a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 91% for the prediction.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Mi-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Woong-Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Soon-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hui-Nam
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: Woo-Hyuk
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Do-Sun
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wan-Joo
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shim
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology