Stevenson IH, Roberts-Thomson KC, Kistler PM, Edwards GA, Spence S, Sanders P, Kalman JM. Atrial electrophysiology is altered by acute hypercapnia but not hypoxemia: implications for promotion of atrial fibrillation in pulmonary disease and sleep apnea.
Heart Rhythm 2010;
7:1263-70. [PMID:
20338265 DOI:
10.1016/j.hrthm.2010.03.020]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2009] [Accepted: 03/15/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Chronic pulmonary disease and sleep apnea have been associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF).
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to characterize the atrial electrical changes that occur with hypercapnia and hypoxemia and to determine their role in AF development.
METHODS
Seventeen sheep (6 control, 5 hypercapnia, 6 hypoxemia) underwent open chest electrophysiologic evaluation under autonomic blockade. A 64-electrode endocardial basket catheter was positioned in the right atrium, and 2 x 128 electrode epicardial plaques were sutured to the right atrial and left atrial appendages to determine atrial refractoriness (effective refractory period [ERP]) at 9 sites and 5 cycle lengths, conduction time to fixed points on each plaque, and AF vulnerability.
RESULTS
Hypercapnia was associated with a 152% lengthening of ERP from baseline and increased conduction time. ERPs rapidly returned to baseline, but recovery of conduction was delayed at least 117 +/- 24 minutes following resolution of hypercapnia. AF vulnerability was reduced during hypercapnia (with increased ERP) but increased significantly with subsequent return to eucapnia (when ERP normalized but conduction time remained prolonged). No significant changes in ERP, atrial conduction time, or AF vulnerability occurred in hypoxemic or control groups.
CONCLUSION
Differential recovery of ERP and conduction that occurs following hypercapnia might account for the increased vulnerability to AF observed in the phase after return to eucapnia. This may explain in part the increased prevalence of AF in pulmonary disease and sleep apnea.
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