title: Acute alcohol consumption is associated with increased interatrial electromechanical delay in healthy men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute alcohol consumption can cause atrial fibrillation in patients with, and without, heart disease. Increased atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) has been associated with atrial fibrillation. We evaluated the atrial conduction properties by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography in healthy men following acute alcohol intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty healthy male volunteers were included in this study. Baseline ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, and TDI echocardiographic findings were compared to readings taken one hour after drinking six 12-oz cans of beer (76.8 g of ethanol).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the blood pressure and heart rate remained similar before and one hour after alcohol intake, Pmax and Pd values were significantly prolonged (114.2 ± 10.4 vs 100.8 ± 10.6, p = 0.002; 50.6 ± 9.6 vs 34.5 ± 8.8, p < 0.0001). Interatrial EMD was significantly increased after drinking alcohol compared to the baseline (19.8 ± 9.2 vs 14.0 ± 5.5 ms, p < 0.0002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute moderate alcohol intake was associated with an increased interatrial EMD obtained by TDI echocardiography. This finding may help explain how these patients express increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation.
authors: Camlica Alman Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey. drcsengul@yahoo.com
authors: Cihan
authors: C
authors: Sengul
authors: Cihan
authors: C
authors: Cevik
authors: Olcay
authors: O
authors: Ozveren
authors: Aysegul
authors: A
authors: Sunbul
authors: Vecih
authors: V
authors: Oduncu
authors: Taylan
authors: T
authors: Akgun
authors: Mehmet Mustafa
authors: MM
authors: Can
authors: Ender
authors: E
authors: Semiz
authors: Ismet
authors: I
authors: Dindar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001515:Beer / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey