Temporal left atrial lesion formation after ablation of atrial fibrillation.
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to induce thermal damage to the left atrium (LA) in an attempt to isolate AF circuits. This injury can be seen using delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI).


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe DE-MRI findings of the LA in the acute and chronic stages postablation.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients were scanned at two time points postablation. The first group (n = 10) underwent DE-MRI at 24 hours and at 3 months. The second group (n = 16) was scanned at 3 months and at 6 or 9 months. One patient had three scans (24 hours, 3 months, 9 months) and was included in both groups. The location and extent of enhancement were then analyzed between both groups.


RESULTS
The median change in LA wall injury between 24 hours and 3 months was -6.38% (range -11.7% to 12.58%). The median change in LA wall injury between 3 months and later follow-up was +2.0% (range -4.0% to 6.58%). There appears to be little relationship between the enhancement at 24 hours and 3 months (R(2) = 0.004). In contrast, a strong correlation is seen at 3 months and later follow-up (R(2) = 0.966). Qualitative comparison revealed a stronger qualitative relationship between MRI findings at 3 months and later follow-up than at 24 hours and 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
RF-induced scar appears to have formed by 3 months postablation. At 24 hours postablation, DE-MRI enhancement appears consistent with a transient inflammatory response rather than stable LA scar formation.
Badger
Troy J
TJ
Atrial Fibrillation Program, Division of Cardiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132-2400, USA.
Oakes
Robert S
RS
Daccarett
Marcos
M
Burgon
Nathan S
NS
Akoum
Nazem
N
Fish
Eric N
EN
Blauer
Joshua J E
JJ
Rao
Swati N
SN
Adjei-Poku
Yaw
Y
Kholmovski
Eugene G
EG
Vijayakumar
Sathya
S
Di Bella
Edward V R
EV
MacLeod
Rob S
RS
Marrouche
Nassir F
NF
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003287:Contrast Media