TY - JOUR

T1 - Atrial and ventricular volume and function evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation before and after cardioversion

AU - Therkelsen, Susette Krohn

AU - Groenning, Bjoern Aaris

AU - Svendsen, Jesper Hastrup

AU - Jensen, Gorm Boje

AU - Therkelsen, Susette Krohn

AU - Groenning, Bjoern Aaris

AU - Svendsen, Jesper Hastrup

AU - Jensen, Gorm Boje

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atrial Fibrillation; Cardiac Volume; Case-Control Studies; Electric Countershock; Female; Heart Atria; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; Male; Middle Aged

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and 25% of those >40 years old will experience AF. Left atrial size and left ventricular function are independently related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to evaluate cardiac volume and function using magnetic resonance imaging in patients with persistent AF and to describe the changes after cardioversion (CV). Sixty consecutive patients with persistent AF and 19 healthy volunteers had cardiac volumes evaluated by cinematographic breath-hold magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with AF were evaluated before CV and at 1, 30, and 180 days after CV, if still in sinus rhythm. All atrial and ventricular volumes and left ventricular mass decreased and ejection fractions increased significantly after CV (p <0.0001 for all variables). Atrial and ventricular diastolic volumes increased significantly the day after CV. The atrial diastolic volumes had decreased significantly at 30 days and ventricular volumes at 180 days. The atrial systolic volumes decreased significantly the day after CV, but the ventricular systolic volumes remained constant the day after CV and decreased thereafter. Only the right atrial volumes were normalized 180 days after CV. The same results were found in a subgroup of patients with lone AF. In conclusion, reversal of atrial dimensions and function happened earlier than ventricular reversal after CV in persistent AF. Atrial reversal began immediately and ventricular reversal was not seen before 30 days after CV. Our results suggest that the changes to the left atrium and both ventricles caused by AF could be permanent and that CV of AF may be preferable.

AB - Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and 25% of those >40 years old will experience AF. Left atrial size and left ventricular function are independently related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to evaluate cardiac volume and function using magnetic resonance imaging in patients with persistent AF and to describe the changes after cardioversion (CV). Sixty consecutive patients with persistent AF and 19 healthy volunteers had cardiac volumes evaluated by cinematographic breath-hold magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with AF were evaluated before CV and at 1, 30, and 180 days after CV, if still in sinus rhythm. All atrial and ventricular volumes and left ventricular mass decreased and ejection fractions increased significantly after CV (p <0.0001 for all variables). Atrial and ventricular diastolic volumes increased significantly the day after CV. The atrial diastolic volumes had decreased significantly at 30 days and ventricular volumes at 180 days. The atrial systolic volumes decreased significantly the day after CV, but the ventricular systolic volumes remained constant the day after CV and decreased thereafter. Only the right atrial volumes were normalized 180 days after CV. The same results were found in a subgroup of patients with lone AF. In conclusion, reversal of atrial dimensions and function happened earlier than ventricular reversal after CV in persistent AF. Atrial reversal began immediately and ventricular reversal was not seen before 30 days after CV. Our results suggest that the changes to the left atrium and both ventricles caused by AF could be permanent and that CV of AF may be preferable.

U2 - 10.1016/j.amjcard.2005.11.040

DO - 10.1016/j.amjcard.2005.11.040

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16616028

VL - 97

SP - 1213

EP - 1219

JO - Am. J. Cardiol.

JF - Am. J. Cardiol.

SN - 0002-9149

IS - 8

ER -