title: The amplitude of fibrillatory waves on leads aVF and V1 predicting the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation patients who underwent catheter ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether the amplitude of fibrillatory wave (F wave) on electrocardiography could predict the recurrence in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who underwent catheter ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  All consecutive persistent AF patients who underwent catheter ablation at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between November 2006 and February 2012, were enrolled. The amplitude of F wave was measured on three orthogonal leads (leads I, V1 and aVF) on the Prucka CardioLab recording system. The primary end point was the recurrence after catheter ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 54 persistent AF patients were enrolled. Fifty patients (age: 58 ± 11years, 72% male) constituted the study population after excluding four patients lost of follow-up. The duration of AF was 9 ± 7 (2-18) months. Twenty-four patients (48%) recurred during the follow-up of 25 ± 19 months, constituted recurrence group. The remaining 26 patients constituted control group. The F-wave amplitude in recurrence group was significantly lower than control group (lead aVF, 0.085 ± 0.018 vs. 0.111 ± 0.036mV, P = 0.002; lead V1 , 0.116 ± 0.031 vs. 0.148 ± 0.047mV, P = 0.008). The amplitudes of leads aVF (P = 0.023) and V1 (P = 0.031) were the independent predictors of AF recurrence. The sensitivity and specificity of F-wave amplitude of lead aVF < 0.093mV or V1 < 0.123mV to predict the recurrence were 75% and 73%, 68% and 64%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low amplitudes of F wave in leads aVF and V1 could predict the recurrence of patients with persistent AF who underwent catheter ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Kang'an
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Taibo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002681:China; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: catheter ablation; electrocardiography; fibrillatory wave; persistent atrial fibrillation; recurrence