Left atrial volume is a predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation.
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.
Shin
Sung-Hee
SH
Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Park
Mi-Young
MY
Oh
Woong-Jin
WJ
Hong
Soon-Jun
SJ
Pak
Hui-Nam
HN
Song
Woo-Hyuk
WH
Lim
Do-Sun
DS
Kim
Young-Hoon
YH
Shim
Wan-Joo
WJ
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