title: Incomplete recovery of mechanical and endocrine left atrial functions one month after electrical cardioversion for persistent atrial fibrillation: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Restoration of the mechanical and endocrine functions of the left atrium remains controversial after electrical cardioversion treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation. The objective of the prospective study was to describe the recovery of the endocrine and mechanical functions of the left atrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of left atrium recovery after electrical cardioversion by the new speckle-tracking echocardiography technique and proANP measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients suffering from persistent atrial fibrillation with no alteration of left ventricular ejection fraction were prospectively evaluated at baseline and then one month later by echocardiography, measuring left atrial volume and left atrial deformation (MPALS), as well as the proANP and BNP concentrations. One month after cardioversion 10 patients remained in sinus rhythm and 10 showed recurrent atrial fibrillation. No significant differences between the two groups in terms of clinical, echocardiographic and endocrine parameters were observed at baseline evaluation. We observed a significant reduction of left atrial volume only in the sinus group, whereas restoration of the left atrial deformation was only partial (18%) in that group. By contrast, we registered no significant changes in ANP concentration at one month in either the sinus or the atrial fibrillation groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that restoration of left atrium mechanical function is only partial one month after treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation by electrical cardioversion, whereas a significant reduction of left atrial volume was noted, explaining the remaining high level of ANP in the sinus group.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernard-Brunet
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saint Etienne
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piver
authors.forename: Noura
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zannad
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pagés
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fauchier
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, François Rabelais University, 37020 Tours, France. d.babuty@chu-tours.fr.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Babuty
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor