title: Distinct prognostic impacts of both atrial volumes on outcomes after radiofrequency ablation of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: three-dimensional imaging study using multidetector computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left atrial (LA) enlargement is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, impact of right atrial (RA) size on outcomes after RFA is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent RFA of AF (n=242, 197 men, 57 ± 11 years) were enrolled (159 paroxysmal [PaAF] and 83 persistent [PeAF]). Three-dimensional RA and LA volumes were measured before RFA with multidetector computed tomography and indexed to body surface area (RAVI and LAVI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a 3-month blanking period, 66 patients (27%) failed to maintain sinus rhythm during follow-up (556 ± 322 days). Despite similar clinical characteristics, LAVI was larger (77 ± 21 vs. 91 ± 27 ml/m(2), P<0.001) and RAVI showed a trend to be greater (85 ± 26 vs. 92 ± 25 ml/m(2), P=0.06) in patients with future recurrence than without recurrence. Additionally, patients with larger RA or LA experienced recurrences more frequently and earlier during follow-up (log rank, P < 0.05 for all). In Cox regression analysis, LAVI was independently associated with outcomes (10 ml/m(2) increase; HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.09-1.36, P<0.001), whereas RAVI was not. In subgroup analysis, 25 PaAF patients (16%) experienced recurrence and both atrial volumes failed to predict the outcome independently, despite borderline significance of RAVI (10 ml/m(2) increase; HR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.48, P=0.05). Meanwhile, 41 patients (49%) in PeAF group experienced AF recurrence and LAVI was an independent prognosticator (10 ml/m(2) increase; HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03-1.36).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RA size might affect the outcome after RFA in PaAF patients. LA enlargement, rather than RA size, influence outcomes after RFA, especially in PeAF.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeonggeun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Hye-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jaemin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Jae-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Uhm
authors.forename: Jong-Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hui-Nam
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: Moon-Hyoung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Boyoung
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Ablation; Atrial fibrillation; Left atrium; Prognosis; Right atrium