Left atrial stiffness relates to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation

Left Atrial Stiffness and Atrial Fibrillation . Introduction: An increased left atrial (LA) stiffness reflects the structural remodeling and deterioration of the LA function. This study was designed to estimate LA stiffness by measuring a combination of the strain and LA pressure in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) of atrial fibrillation (AF) and to evaluate the influence of the LA stiffness on the cardiac function, serum markers, and recurrence of AF after PVI. Methods: In 155 consecutive patients with AF, the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and aminoterminal procollagen type III propeptide (PIIIP) plasma levels were measured before the PVI. The difference between the minimum and maximum LA systolic pressures was directly measured by a transseptal puncture. The ratio of the difference in the LA pressures to the peak systolic LA strain evaluated by speckle‐tracking echocardiography was used as an index of the LA stiffness. Results: The calculated LA stiffness index was related to the BNP level (r_s= 0.444, P < 0.001), E/E′ ratio (r_s= 0.444, P < 0.001), LA volume index (r_s= 0.370, P < 0.001), and PIIIP level (r_s= 0.305, P = 0.002). During a mean follow‐up period of 33.8 ± 12.2 months, 45 patients (29%) presented with AF recurrences. A Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed the LA stiffness index was an independent predictor of recurrence of AF (HR 2.88; 95% CI 1.75 to 4.73, P < 0.001). Conclusions: In patients with AF, the LA stiffness index is related to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, LA dilatation, and collagen synthesis and may predict AF recurrences after PVI. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 999‐1006, September 2011)     

左心耳形态结构与房颤射频消融术后复发的关系

【摘要】 目的 探讨左心耳形态对心房颤动（房颤）导管消融术后复发的预测价值。方法 选取2019年1月至2020年1月在河南省胸科医院和郑州市第七人民医院首次行房颤射频消融的患者440例为研究对象,根据随访结果分为房颤复发组和未复发组。术前所有患者均接受左房肺静脉血管成像或食道彩超检查,根据检查结果将左心耳形态分为鸡翅形、风向标型、仙人掌型、菜花型。术后随访18个月,以消融术后复发为结局,分析左心耳形态对房颤复发的影响。结果 阵发性房颤57例（22.80%）复发,持续性房颤78例（41.05%）复发,持续性房颤患者复发率明显大于阵发性心房颤动;复发组患者左房前后径、左心房体积、左心耳体积均大于未复发组;左心耳形态学特征中,鸡翅型房颤复发率最高（37.26%）,风向标型复发率最低（21.59%）（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示左心耳体积、持续性房颤及鸡翅型左心耳形态是房颤复发的危险因素（P＜0.05）,OR( 95% CI) 分别为1.348（1.009~1.801）、1.980（1.343~2.919）、1.687（1.021~2.786）。此外,服用ACEI/ARB类药物也有助于减少房颤复发。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线显示房颤消融术后左心耳形态累计复发率依次为鸡翅型＞仙人掌型＞菜花型＞风向标型（χ2=9.302,P=0.026）。结论 左心耳形态学特征与房颤射频消融术后复发风险相关,ACEI/ARB类药物有助于降低房颤消融术后复发。     

Morphological changes of the left atrial appendage after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

Introduction: The left atrial appendage (LAA) has been proven to be the most important site of thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the information regarding the morphometric alteration of the LAA related to the outcome of AF ablation is still lacking. Thus, we evaluated the long-term changes of the LAA morphology in patients undergoing catheter ablation of AF using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).
Methods and Results: Group 1 included 15 controls without any AF history. Group 2 included 40 patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal AF. They were divided into two subgroups: group 2a included 30 patients without AF recurrence after pulmonary vein (PV) ablation. Group 2b included 10 patients with late recurrence of AF. The LAA morphology before and after (20 ± 11 months) ablation was evaluated by three-dimensional MRA. The group 2 patients had a larger baseline LAA size (including the LAA orifice, neck, and length) and less eccentric LAA orifice and neck. After the AF ablation, there was a significant reduction in the LAA size in the group 2a patients, and the morphology of the LAA neck became more eccentric during the follow-up period. In group 2b, the LAA size increased and no significant change in the eccentricity of the orifice and neck could be noted.
Conclusions: The morphometric remodeling of the LAA in the AF patients could be reversed after a successful ablation of the AF. Progressive dilation of the LAA was noted in the patients with AF recurrence. These structural changes in the LAA may play a role in reducing the potential risk of cerebrovascular accidents.     

环肺静脉隔离术对阵发性心房颤动患者左心房大小和功能的影响

目的:探讨环肺静脉隔离术对阵发性心房颤动(Af)患者左心房大小和功能的影响。方法:28例阵发性Af患者择期行环肺静脉隔离术,根据Af复发与否分为复发组(5例)和未复发组(23例);同期选择窦性心律患者30例作为对照组。应用超声心动图对所有患者在窦性心律下于术前、术后24h、1个月和3个月时测量左心房最大容积(LAVmax)、左心房最小容积(LAVmin)、二尖瓣环晚期运动峰值速度(A峰)、肺静脉收缩期波(S峰)、舒张期波(D峰)、心房血流逆向波(PVa峰),并计算左心房射血分数(LAEF)。结果:①左心房大小:复发组和未复发组患者消融术前LAVmax和LAVmin均较对照组增加(均P<0.05),在术后24hLAVmin均增加(均P<0.01),LAVmax无明显变化;未复发组术后1个月时LAVmax、LAVmin均减小至正常(均P<0.05),术后3个月时未再进一步减小,而复发组术后1个月和3个月恢复至术前大小。②左心房功能:复发组和未复发组消融术前LAEF和A峰值均较对照组降低(均P<0.05),术后24h左心房功能指标均较术前明显降低(均P<0.05);术后1个月时复发组和未复发组左心房功能指标较术后24h均明显增加(均P<0.01),2组PVa峰、S峰和D峰值均恢复至术前正常水平(均P<0.05),LAEF和A峰在未复发组增加至正常水平(P<0.05),而在复发组仅恢复至术前水平;术后3个月时左心房功能指标较术后1个月时均未再有明显变化。结论:环肺静脉隔离术可以逆转阵发性Af造成的左心房大小和功能异常,而且长期对左心房大小和功能无负面影响。     

左心耳电隔离在持续性心房颤动治疗中的研究进展

肺静脉隔离是心房颤动(房颤)导管消融的基石,对于阵发性房颤有良好效果,但在持续性房颤中的效果则不尽人意.肺静脉隔离以外的辅助消融策略有助于提高持续性房颤的手术成功率.左心耳不仅是心腔内血栓的常见起源,还是导致快速性房性心律失常发生或维持的因素,因而左心耳电隔离成为持续性房颤辅助消融策略之一,研究表明其可能有助于提高持续...     

Percutaneous pulmonary vein isolation for treatment of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Transvenous catheter ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation is an evolving technique. AIM: The purpose of this study was to identify subgroups of patients most likely to benefit from pulmonary vein electrical isolation. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation resistant to pharmacological therapy were studied. Mapping-guided segmental application of radio-frequency energy was used to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins in 74 patients. Ischaemic or dilated cardiomyopathy was present in 34% of patients. Atrial fibrillation had been present for a mean time (+/- standard deviation) of 6.6 +/- 6.1 years. It was paroxysmal in 53 patients (72%). RESULTS: The mean number of procedures was 1.6/patient. After 6 +/- 6 months, 73% of patients (54/74) were in sinus rhythm. Thirteen of those in sinus rhythm were using anti-arrhythmic medications (25%). Recurrence of atrial fibrillation soon after pulmonary vein isolation occurred in 50%. Patients with persistent/permanent atrial fibrillation were less likely to be in sinus rhythm at follow up (11/21 (52%) vs 43/53 (81%); P = 0.01). However, the rate of early recurrence was similar in the intermittent and the persistent/permanent groups (26/53 (49%) vs 11/21(52%), respectively; P-value not significant). Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation were more likely to experience a recurrence of atrial fibril-lation (89%; P = 0.04). No other baseline factors predicted procedural success. Cardiac tamponade occurred in two patients and moderate pulmonary vein stenosis (>50% diameter narrowing) occurred in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary vein isolation is an effective curative treatment for a broad group of patients with atrial fibrillation. However, the procedure is only suitable for patients with problematic atrial fibrillation resistant to other therapies because of the small risk of serious complications.     

Preprocedural predictors of atrial fibrillation recurrence following pulmonary vein antrum isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: long-term follow-up results

Predictors of Recurrence after AF Ablation. Introduction: The objective of this study was to identify the simple preprocedural parameters of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following single ablation procedure in patients with paroxysmal AF during long‐term follow‐up period. Methods and Results: Consecutive 474 patients (61 ± 10 years; 364 males, left atrial (LA) diameter 37.6 ± 5.1 mm) with drug‐refractory paroxysmal AF who underwent AF ablation were analyzed. Pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI), cavotricuspid isthmus line creation with bidirectional conduction block, and elimination of all non‐PV triggers of AF were performed in all patients. With a mean follow‐up of 30 ± 13 months after single procedure, 318 patients (67.1%) were in sinus rhythm without any antiarrhythmic drugs. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model, including the age, gender, duration of AF, body mass index, LA size, left ventricular ejection fraction, and presence of hypertension and structural heart disease as variables, demonstrated that LA size was an independent predictor of AF recurrences after PVAI with a 7.2% increase in the probability for every 1 mm increase in LA diameter (P = 0.0007). When the patients were categorized into 3 groups according to the LA diameter, the patients with moderate (40–50 mm) and severe dilatation (>50 mm) had a 1.30‐fold (P = 0.0131) and 2.14‐fold (P = 0.0057) increase, respectively, in the probability of recurrent AF as compared with the patients with normal LA diameter (≤40 mm). Conclusion : In the long‐term follow‐up period, LA size was the best preprocedural predictor of AF recurrence following single ablation procedure in the patients with paroxysmal AF, even in the patients with a relatively small LA. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 621‐625, June 2011)     

心房颤动冷冻消融方法的应用进展

肺静脉隔离是心房颤动（房颤）导管消融的基石,冷冻球囊是专门为肺静脉解剖结构设计的工具,应用冷冻球囊 导管进行肺静脉隔离（PVI）的有效性和安全性获得了临床研究证实,国内外指南都已将冷冻球囊消融作为房颤消融 PVI的标准疗法。冷冻球囊消融具有持久肺静脉隔离、安全性高、操作简便、患者感受好、学习曲线短等优势,因此, 近10年在临床得以迅速普及应用。随着技术的不断创新和临床研究的深入,冷冻球囊消融疗法也在不断拓展。文 章就房颤冷冻球囊消融方法及应用进展进行论述。     

环肺静脉大环消融和肺静脉节段电隔离治疗阵发性心房颤动结果对比

目的 环肺静脉大环消融(CPVA)和肺静脉节段电隔离(SPVI)是目前导管射频消融治疗阵发性心房颤动(房颤)的两大主流术式,本文研究目的 是验证"CPVA对阵发性房颤的有效率比SP-VI高"这一假设,同时对比两种消融术式的其他治疗结果.方法 2006年1月至2007年12月入选阵发性房颤病人129例,SPVI和CPVA两组分别为64例和65例.排除标准为,房颤持续时间＞72 h,接受过导管消融的复发病例.结果 SPVI和CPVA组病人成功率分别为78.1%、78.5%;并发症发生率分别为7.8%、10.6%,差异无统计学意义.严重并发症3.9%.X线曝光时间SPVI组多于CPVA组,消融术时间CPVA组长于SPVI组.SPVI组的射频放电时间少于CPVA组.CPVA组术后房性心动过速/心房扑动发生率明显高于SPVI组(12.3%vs 3.1%).结论 SPVI和CPVA两种消融术式均能够比较安全有效地控制阵发性房颤的发作,治疗效果类似.