Novel Echocardiographic Biomarkers in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation

Left Atrial Wall Motion Velocity Assessed during Atrial Fibrillation Predicts Sinus Rhythm Maintenance after Electrical Cardioversion in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Reduced left atrial wall motion velocity measured during AF (LAWMV) indicates left atrial remodeling. The aim of this study was to investigate whether LAWMV assessed with tissue Doppler imaging during atrial fibrillation (AF) predicts sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance after direct current cardioversion (DCCV) for persistent AF. The study included 126 patients who underwent DCCV and were followed for 12 months. At 12 months, maintained SR was reported in 55 patients (43.7%). We noted that LAWMV was higher in patients with maintained SR at 12 months than in those with recurrent AF (3.69 ± 0.84 vs. 2.86 ± 1.09; p < 0.001). In the multivariable regression model containing echocardiographic variables, LAWMV was an independent predictor of SR maintenance at 12 months (odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-2.69; p = 0.017). Similarly, LAWMW was an independent predictor of SR maintenance at 12 months (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.19-2.77; p = 0.006) in the multivariate regression model containing both echocardiographic and clinical variables. LAWMV predicts SR maintenance after DCCV for persistent AF. Echocardiographic markers of left atrial mechanical remodeling are better at predicting SR maintenance than markers of structural remodeling.

Left atrial wall dyskinesia assessed during contractile phase as a predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after electrical cardioversion performed due to persistent atrial fibrillation

Direct current cardioversion (DCCV) is one of the basic methods for restoring sinus rhythm (SR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial (LA) strain is one of the parameters used to assess the risk of AF recurrence following DCCV. Assessing the strain also allows for the detection of segmental disorders of LA wall contractility, including dispersion or dyskinesia. In the present study, we determined the predictive value of LA wall dyskinesia in assessing the risk of AF recurrence after DCCV. We performed a comprehensive echocardiography in 89 patients with persistent AF following successful DCCV. We assessed the strain and strain rate in the reservoir (r), conduit, and contractile (ct) phases by using speckle tracking echocardiography. Dyskinesia was diagnosed when the strain rate of any segment of the LA wall displayed positive values during contraction. After 12 months, 47.2% of patients maintained SR. Patients who maintained SR had a significantly lower LA strain (LAS)r assessed in the apical 4-chamber view (4c) (11.38 ± 4.63 vs 14.54 ± 5.11; P = .004) and 2-chamber view (2c) (11.05 ± 4.1 vs 14.93 ± 6.82%; P = .006), LASct4c (2.51 ± 2.3 vs 5.09 ± 3.29%; P < .001), LASct2c (3.6 ± 2.98 vs 5.67 ± 4.23%; P = .008), peak strain rate (pLASR) ct4c (0.36 ± 0.24 s vs 0.62 ± 0.4; P < .001) and pLASRct2c (0.49 ± 0.30 vs 0.79 ± 0.53 s; P = .01). LA dyskinesia was observed less frequently in the 4c view in patients who maintained SR (59.57 vs 17.5%; P < .001). Multivariable logistic regression showed that the LASct4c (odds ratio (OR) 0.78; 95%CI 0.63-0.97; P = .027) and LA dyskinesia observed in the 4c view (OR 3.53; 95%CI 1.16-10.76; P = .027) were significant independent predictors of AF recurrence at 12 months. We conclude that LA dyskinesia observed in the 4c view and LASct4c are independent risk factors for AF recurrence following DCCV.