title: Restoration of Mitral Inflow Velocity Until Blanking Period Is Associated With Successful Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.
abstract: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is a useful therapeutic option for atrial fibrillation (AF), although outcomes are less effective for persistent AF. The aim of this study was to elucidate the echocardiographic parameters associated with successful RFCA in patients with persistent AF.A total of 159 patients (mean age, 60.8 ± 9.6 years, 125 males [78.6%]) who underwent RFCA for persistent AF from April 2009 to May 2014 were included, retrospectively. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year following RFCA. The subjects were divided into 2 groups, a recurrence group and a non-recurrence group. One hundred eleven of the 159 patients (69.8%) remained free from recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia during follow-up (mean, 20.6 ± 17.4 months). Peak A wave velocity (38.1 ± 14.1 in the recurrence group; 48.0 ± 20.7 in the non-recurrence group, P = 0.01), peak E wave velocity (76.4 ± 19.1 versus 68.8 ± 19.5, P = 0.03), deceleration time (196.3 ± 54.4 versus 219.9 ± 64.1, P = 0.04), and left atrial (LA) diameter (44.5 ± 7.3 versus 41.0 ± 5.6, P = 0.01) at 3 months after ablation were significantly different between the two groups. Among echocardiographic parameters, peak A wave velocity (OR 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92-0.99) and LA diameter (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.011.25) were associated with AF recurrence.After RFCA for persistent AF, LA anatomical and functional changes occurred during a 3-month blanking period. Restoration of peak A wave velocity and LA size are associated with successful ablation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hae Ok
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Yong-Seog
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Man-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Youn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome