title: Association between plaque thickness of the thoracic aorta and recurrence of atrial fibrillation after ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several predictors of recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after ablation have been identified, including age, type of AF, hypertension, left atrial diameter and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the atherosclerotic plaque thickness of the thoracic aorta is associated with a recurrence of AF after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Among patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal or persistent AF, 105 consecutive (mean age 58±11 years, male : female=76 : 29) patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography and CPVA were studied. The relationships between the recurrence of AF and variables, including clinical characteristics, plaque thickness of the thoracic aorta, laboratory findings and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A univariate analysis showed that the presence of diabetes {hazard ratio (HR)=3.425; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.422-8.249, p=0.006}, ischemic heart disease (HR=4.549; 95% CI, 1.679-12.322, p=0.003), duration of AF (HR=1.010; 95% CI, 1.001-1.018, p=0.025), type of AF (HR=2.412, 95% CI=1.042-5.584, p=0.040) and aortic plaque thickness with ≥4 mm (HR=9.514; 95% CI, 3.419-26.105, p<0.001) were significantly associated with the recurrence of AF after ablation. In Cox multivariate regression analysis, only the aortic plaque thickness (with ≥4 mm) was an independent predictor of recurrence of AF after ablation (HR=7.250, 95% CI=1.906-27.580, p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significantly increased aortic plaque thickness can be a predictable marker of recurrence of AF after CPVA.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hui-Jeong
authors: HJ
authors: Hwang
authors: Man-Young
authors: MY
authors: Lee
authors: Ho-Joong
authors: HJ
authors: Youn
authors: Yong-Seog
authors: YS
authors: Oh
authors: Tae-Ho
authors: TH
authors: Rho
authors: Wook-Sung
authors: WS
authors: Chung
authors: Chul-Soo
authors: CS
authors: Park
authors: Yun-Seok
authors: YS
authors: Choi
authors: Woo-Baek
authors: WB
authors: Chung
authors: Jae-Beom
authors: JB
authors: Lee
authors: Hyun-Keun
authors: HK
authors: Park
authors: Keunjoon
authors: K
authors: Lim
authors: Jae Hak
authors: JH
authors: Lee
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