Home >> Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Volume 16, Number 1

Morphologic Remodeling of Pulmonary Veins and Left Atrium after Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation:

Authors: HSUAN-MING TSAO1; MEI-HAN WU2; BIEN-HSIEN HUANG3; SHIH-HUANG LEE3; KUN-TAI LEE3; CHING-TAI TAI3; YUNG-KUO LIN3; MING-HSIUNG HSIEH3; JEN-YUAN KUO3; MENG-HUAN LEI1; SHIH-ANN CHEN3

Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Volume 16, Number 1, January 2005 , pp. 7-12(6)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

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Abstract:

Remodeling of PV and LA after AF Ablation.

Introduction: Understanding the structural remodeling and reverse remodeling of the left atrium (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV) after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) may provide important insights into the mechanism and management of AF. This study used magnetic resonance angiographic (MRA) images to investigate changes in PV and LA morphologies before and more than 1 year after ablation.

Method and Results: Forty-five patients (36 men and 9 women, mean age 60 ± 13 years) who underwent MRA before and more than 12 months (mean 21 ± 11) after ablation of paroxysmal AF were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: group I included 35 patients without AF recurrence, and group II included 10 patients with late (>1 month postablation) recurrence of AF. The sizes of the LA and nonablated PV were compared before and after ablation. In group I, significant reduction of ostial area of both superior PVs was noted (left superior PV: from 2.85 ± 0.67 to 2.59 ± 0.73 cm2; right superior PV: from 2.89 ± 0.85 to 2.60 ± 0.73 cm2, both P < 0.001). Geometric alteration toward a round shape was noted in the ostia of superior PVs during follow-up (eccentricity of right superior PV and left superior PV decreased from 0.31 ± 0.10 to 0.22 ± 0.13 and from 0.27 ± 0.11 to 0.19 ± 0.13, respectively, oth P < 0.01). However, LA volume showed only borderline reduction (from 61.52 ± 19.06 to 56.64 ± 17.13 mL, P = 0.05). In group II, significant dilation of the LA (from 61.14 ± 17.54 to 78.73 ± 25.27 mL, P = 0.004) and right superior PV (from 3.41 ± 1.12 to 4.08 ± 1.31 cm2, P = 0.016) was noted during follow-up. Ostial area and eccentricity of the left superior, left inferior, and right inferior PVs and LA were similar before and after ablation.

Conclusion: Structural remodeling of the superior PVs and LA can be reversible after successful ablation without AF recurrence; however, late recurrence of AF is associated with progressive LA dilation.

(J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 16, pp. 7-12, January 2005)

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; pulmonary vein; recurrence; remodeling

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1540-8167.2005.04407.x

Affiliations: 1: Lo-Tung Poh-Ai and I-Lan Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China 2: Department of Radiology, and Cardiovascular Research Institute, National Yang-Ming University, School of Medicine, and Taipei Veterans General Hospital 3: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine

Publication date: 2005-01-01

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