title: Effect of radiofrequency catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation on the left atrial function: assessment by 320-row multislice computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the left atrial (LA) volume and deteriorates LA function. Whether successful radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of persistent AF can reverse this process has not been yet established.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with persistent AF undergoing RFCA were evaluated with pre- and post- (at 6-months of follow-up) procedural multislice computed tomography (MSCT). The LA functions were assessed through LA time-volume curves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population consisted of 44 patients [age 64 (interquartile ranges: 58, 70) years old, 93% male]. Among those, 31 patients (70%) maintained sinus rhythm during the follow-up (no recurrence group; NR group). The remaining 13 patients were classified as the recurrence group (R group). A significant decrease in the minimal and maximal LA volumes was observed in both groups, although this was less pronounced in the R group. Only the NR group had an improvement in the LA expansion index [18% (13, 25) vs. 37% (23, 43), p<0.001], ejection fraction [15% (11, 20) vs. 27% (19, 30), p<0.001] and conduit function [17 ml/m(2) (13, 20) vs. 25 ml/m(2) (20, 34), p<0.001]. An improvement of LV function was also observed only in the NR group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LA anatomical and functional reverse remodeling after RFCA of persistent AF was demonstrated by MSCT during follow-up, which was more pronounced in patients without AF recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yodo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shizuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tenri Hospital, Japan. Electronic address: nakagawa@tenriyorozu.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011846:Radio Waves; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Computed tomography; Left atrial function; Pulmonary vein isolation