Assessment of atrial fibrillation and vulnerability in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to assess atrial fibrillation (AF) and vulnerability in Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome patients using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE).


METHODS
All patients were examined via transthoracic echocardiography and 2D-STE in order to assess atrial function 7 days before and 10 days after RF catheter ablation. A postoperative 3-month follow-up was performed via outpatient visit or telephone calls.


RESULTS
Results showed significant differences in both body mass index (BMI) and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) duration between WPW patients and DAVNP patients (both P<0.05). Echocardiography revealed that the maximum left atrial volume (LAVmax) and the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in diastole increased noticeably in patients with WPW compared to patients with DAVNP both before and after ablation (all P<0.05). Before ablation, there were obvious differences in the levels of SRs, SRe, and SRa from the 4-chamber view (LA) in the WPW patients group compared with patients in the DAVNP group (all P<0.05). In the AF group, there were significant differences in the levels of systolic strain rate (SRs), early diastolic strain rate (SRe), and late diastolic strain rate (SRa) from the 4-chamber view (LA) both before and after ablation (all P<0.05). In the non-AF group, there were decreased SRe levels from the 4-chamber view (LA/RA) pre-ablation compared to post-ablation (all P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings provide convincing evidence that WPW syndrome may result in increased atrial vulnerability and contribute to the development of AF. Further, RF catheter ablation of AAV pathway can potentially improve atrial function in WPW syndrome patients. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography imaging in WPW patients would be necessary in the evaluation and improvement of the overall function of RF catheter ablation in a long-term follow-up period.
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China.
Jing-Jie
JJ
Li
Departments of Cardiology, General Hospital of Taiyuan Iron and Steel Company, Taiyuan, P.R. China.
Fang
F
Wei
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China.
Ju-Gang
JG
Chen
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China.
Yan-Wei
YW
Yu
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China.
Hong-Yue
HY
Gu
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China.
Rui
R
Jiang
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China.
Xiu-Li
XL
Wu
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China.
Qian
Q
Sun
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult