Impact of Amiodarone on Electrophysiologic Properties of Pulmonary Veins in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Authors: THOMAS ROSTOCK; HELGE SERVATIUS; TIM RISIUS; RODOLFO VENTURA; CHRISTIAN WEISS; THOMAS MEINERTZ; STEPHAN WILLEMS

Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Volume 16, Number 1, January 2005 , pp. 39-44(6)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

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Abstract:

Amiodarone Effect on PV Electrophysiologic Properties.

Introduction: Pulmonary veins (PVs) are the predominant location of triggers for atrial fibrillation (AF), but little is known about the electrophysiologic properties of PVs. In addition, the influence of amiodarone on the electrophysiologic properties of PVs has not been elucidated.

Methods and Results: Fifty-five patients with symptomatic and drug-resistant AF were divided into two groups: group 1 patients (n = 29) without antiarrhythmic drug therapy at the time of electrophysiologic study (EPS), and group 2 patients (n = 26) undergoing continuous long-term treatment with amiodarone. EPS including programmed stimulation of both atria and within the PVs was performed in both groups. In group 1, the effective refractory period (ERP) of all PVs (174 ± 62 msec) was significantly shorter than the ERP of the left atrium ([LA] 254 ± 30 msec, P = 0.0001) and right atrium ([RA] 221 ± 29 msec, P = 0.0001). The same pattern was observed in group 2 (PV: 210 ± 58 msec; LA: 259 ± 35 msec, P = 0.0001; RA: 246 ± 37 msec, P = 0.0255). The ERP of all stimulated PVs was significantly lower in group 1 (174 ± 62 msec) than in group 2 (210 ± 58 msec; P = 0.0001). The ERP of the left superior and right superior PVs and RA but not the left inferior PV and LA were significantly increased in patients treated with amiodarone. Decremental conduction properties were observed in all stimulated PVs, and there were no significantly differences between the maximal decrement of both groups.

Conclusion: The distinctive electrophysiologic properties of PVs are emphasized by amiodarone therapy. Long-term amiodarone treatment is responsible for heterogeneous alteration of the PV electrophysiology, which may account for the individual antiarrhythmic responses in a subset of patients with paroxysmal AF.

(J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 16, pp. 39-44, January 2005)

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; pulmonary vein; amiodarone; electrophysiologic properties; programmed stimulation

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1540-8167.2005.04418.x

Affiliations: 1: From the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

Publication date: 2005-01-01

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