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Gu Z, Yang G, Ju W, Li M, Chen H, Gu K, Liu H, Chen M. Empirical superior vena cava isolation improves outcomes of radiofrequency re-ablation in pulmonary vein isolation non-responders: A 2-center retrospective study in China. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:1049414. [PMID: 36568556 PMCID: PMC9768188 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1049414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the standard ablation strategy for treating atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the optimal strategy of a repeat procedure for PVI non-responders remains unclear. Objective This study aims to investigate the incidence of PVI non-responders in patients undergoing a repeat procedure, as well as the predictors for the recurrence of repeat ablation. Methods A total of 276 consecutive patients who underwent repeat ablation from August 2016 to July 2019 in two centers were screened. A total of 64 (22%) patients with durable PVI were enrolled. Techniques such as low voltage zone modification, linear ablation, non-PV trigger ablation, and empirical superior vena cava (SVC) isolation were conducted. Results After the 20.0 ± 9.9 month follow-up, 42 (65.6%) patients were free from atrial arrhythmias. A significant difference was reported between the recurrent and non-recurrent groups in non-paroxysmal AF (50 vs. 23.8%, p = 0.038), diabetes mellitus (27.3 vs. 4.8%, p = 0.02), and empirical superior vena cava (SVC) isolation (28.6 vs. 60.5%, p = 0.019). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that empirical SVC isolation was an independent predictor of freedom from recurrence (95% CI: 1.64-32.8, p = 0.009). Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrates significant difference in recurrence between empirical and non-empirical SVC isolation groups (HR: 0.338; 95% CI: 0.131-0.873; p = 0.025). Conclusion About 22% of patients in repeat procedures were PVI non-responders. Non-paroxysmal AF and diabetes mellitus were associated with recurrence post-re-ablation. Empirical SVC isolation could potentially improve the outcome of repeat procedures in PVI non-responders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhoushan Gu
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weizhu Ju
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingfang Li
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongwu Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kai Gu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hailei Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Minglong Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Minglong Chen,
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Quah JX, Dharmaprani D, Tiver K, Lahiri A, Hecker T, Perry R, Selvanayagam JB, Joseph MX, McGavigan A, Ganesan A. Atrial fibrosis and substrate based characterization in atrial fibrillation: Time to move forwards. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2021; 32:1147-1160. [PMID: 33682258 DOI: 10.1111/jce.14987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly encountered cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice. However, current therapeutic interventions for atrial fibrillation have limited clinical efficacy as a consequence of major knowledge gaps in the mechanisms sustaining atrial fibrillation. From a mechanistic perspective, there is increasing evidence that atrial fibrosis plays a central role in the maintenance and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation. Electrophysiologically, atrial fibrosis results in alterations in conduction velocity, cellular refractoriness, and produces conduction block promoting meandering, unstable wavelets and micro-reentrant circuits. Clinically, atrial fibrosis has also linked to poor clinical outcomes including AF-related thromboembolic complications and arrhythmia recurrences post catheter ablation. In this article, we review the pathophysiology behind the formation of fibrosis as AF progresses, the role of fibrosis in arrhythmogenesis, surrogate markers for detection of fibrosis using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography and electroanatomic mapping, along with their respective limitations. We then proceed to review the current evidence behind therapeutic interventions targeting atrial fibrosis, including drugs and substrate-based catheter ablation therapies followed by the potential future use of electro phenotyping for AF characterization to overcome the limitations of contemporary substrate-based methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing X Quah
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Dhani Dharmaprani
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kathryn Tiver
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Anandaroop Lahiri
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Teresa Hecker
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rebecca Perry
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia.,UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Majo X Joseph
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Anand Ganesan
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
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Biewener S, Tscholl V, Nagel P, Landmesser U, Huemer M, Attanasio P. Reduction of mapping time in pulmonary vein isolation using atrial pacing during left atrial voltage map acquisition. J Electrocardiol 2020; 63:65-67. [PMID: 33142183 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2020.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION 3D mapping systems are used during radiofrequency (RF) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) to facilitate catheter navigation and to provide additional electroanatomical information as a surrogate marker for the presence and location of fibrotic atrial myocardium. Electric voltage information can only be measured when the myocardium is depolarized. Low heart rates or frequent premature atrial beats can significantly prolong creation of detailed left atrial voltage maps. This study was designed to evaluate the potential advantage of voltage information collection during atrial pacing instead of acquisition during sinus rhythm. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 40 patients were included in the study, in 20 consecutive patients voltage mapping was performed during sinus rhythm, and in the following 20 patients during atrial pacing. The average age of the included patients was 69.5 ± 9.4, 17 of 40 patients (43%) were male. All procedures were performed using the Carto 3D Mapping system. For LA voltage mapping, a multipolar circular mapping catheter was used. The atrium was paced via the proximal coronary sinus catheter electrodes with a fixed cycle length of 600 ms. By mapping during atrial pacing mapping time was reduced by 35% (441 s. (±141) vs. 683 s. (±203) p = 0.029) while a higher number of total mapping points were acquired (908 ± 560 vs. 581 ± 150, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION Acquiring left atrial low voltage maps during atrial pacing significantly reduces mapping time. As pacing also improves comparability of left atrial electroanatomical maps we suggest that this approach may be considered as a standard during these procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Biewener
- Department of Cardiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Tscholl
- Department of Cardiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Nagel
- Department of Cardiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Landmesser
- Department of Cardiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Huemer
- Department of Cardiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Attanasio
- Department of Cardiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
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4
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Wang Z, Cheng L, Zhang J, Liang Z, Dong R, Hang F, Wang X, Wang Z, Wu Y, Du J. Serum-Soluble ST2 Is a Novel Biomarker for Evaluating Left Atrial Low-Voltage Zone in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e926221. [PMID: 32898129 PMCID: PMC7500126 DOI: 10.12659/msm.926221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is linked to low-voltage zone (LVZ). This study explored whether serum soluble ST2 (sST2) levels can predict the size of LVZs in patients with pAF. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 177 patients with pAF treated with RFCA were consecutively enrolled in this study. One hundred twenty-five patients (70.6%) with <20% LVZ were assigned to Group A, and 52 patients (29.4%) with a LVZ >20% were assigned to Group B. Levels of soluble ST2 (sST2), growth and differentiation factor (GDF-15) and tissue inhibitor of MMP1 (TIMP-1) were measured. RESULTS The sST2 levels were higher in Group B than in Group A (23.9±3.3 vs. 30.9±5.0 ng/mL, P<0.000). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, sST2 was the only independent parameter for predicting left atrial LVZ (odds ratio, 1.611 [1.379-1.882]; P<0.001). The cut-off value of sST2 obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was 26.65 ng/mL for prediction of LVZ (sensitivity: 86.5%, specificity: 84.8%). The under-curve area was 0.895 (0.842-0.948) (P<0.001). At 12-month follow-up, patients with sST2 <26.65 ng/mL had more patients free from atrial arrhythmias compared to patients with sST2 >26.65 ng/mL (88.6% vs. 69.8%, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that sST2 levels are higher in pAF patients with LVZ >20% compared to those with a smaller LVZ. Also increased sST2 levels can serve as a novel predictor of AF recurrence rate in patients who have undergone RFCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zefeng Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Liting Cheng
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Junmeng Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Zhuo Liang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Ruiqing Dong
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Fei Hang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Xinlu Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Ziyu Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Yongquan Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Jie Du
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
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The Value of Voltage Histogram Analysis Derived Right Atrial Scar Burden in the Prediction of Left Atrial Scar Burden. Cardiol Res Pract 2020; 2020:3981684. [PMID: 32855820 PMCID: PMC7442993 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3981684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Growing evidence suggests that fibrotic changes can be observed in atrial fibrillation (AF) in both atria. Quantification of the scar burden during electroanatomical mapping might have important therapeutic and prognostic consequences. However, as the current invasive treatment of AF is focused on the left atrium (LA), the role of the right atrium (RA) is less well understood. We aimed to characterize the clinical determinates of the RA low-voltage burden and its relation to the LA scaring. Methods We have included 36 patients who underwent catheter ablation for AF in a prospective observational study. In addition to LA mapping and ablation, high-density RA bipolar voltage maps (HD-EAM) were also reconstructed. The extent of the diseased RA tissue (≤0.5 mV) was quantified using the voltage histogram analysis tool (CARTO®3, Biosense Webster). Results The percentage of RA diseased tissue burden was significantly higher in patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 2 (p = 0.0305), higher indexed LA volume on the CTA scan and on the HD‐EAM (p = 0.0223 and p = 0.0064, respectively), or higher indexed RA volume on the HD‐EAM (p = 0.0026). High RA diseased tissue burden predicted the presence of high LA diseased tissue burden (OR = 7.1, CI (95%): 1.3–38.9, p = 0.0145), and there was a significant correlation of the same (r = 0.6461, p < 0.0001). Conclusions Determining the extent of the right atrial low-voltage burden might give useful clinical information. According to our results, the diseased tissue burden correlates well between the two atria: the right atrium mirrors the left atrium.
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Darlington A, McCauley MD. Atrial Cardiomyopathy: An Unexplored Limb of Virchow's Triad for AF Stroke Prophylaxis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:11. [PMID: 32133372 PMCID: PMC7039862 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The most dreaded complication of atrial fibrillation is stroke, and 70–80% of patients with AF-related stroke die or become disabled. The mechanisms of thromboembolism in AF are multifactorial, with evidence demonstrating that all three criteria of Virchow's triad are satisfied in AF: abnormal stasis of blood, endothelial damage, and hypercoagulability. Mechanistic insights into the latter two limbs have resulted in effective stroke prophylactic therapies (left atrial appendage occlusion and oral anticoagulants); however, despite these advances, there remains an excess of stroke in the AF population that may be due, in part, to a lack of mechanistic understanding of atrial hypocontractility resulting in abnormal stasis of blood within the atrium. These observations support the emerging concept of atrial cardiomyopathy as a cause of stroke. In this Review, we evaluate molecular, translational, and clinical evidence for atrial cardiomyopathy as a cause for stroke from AF, and present a rationale for further investigation of this largely unaddressed limb of Virchow's triad in AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Darlington
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mark D McCauley
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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