A comparison of the electrophysiologic and electroanatomic characteristics between the right and left atrium in persistent atrial fibrillation: Is the right atrium a window into the left?

INTRODUCTION: The right atrium (RA) is readily accessible; however, it is unclear whether changes in the RA are representative of the LA. We performed detailed biatrial electroanatomic mapping to determine the electrophysiological relationship between the atria. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients with persistent AF underwent biatrial electroanatomical mapping with a contact force catheter acquiring points with a CF >10 g prior to ablation. Points were analyzed for tissue voltage, complex electrograms, low voltage (<0.5 mV), scar (<0.05 mV), and conduction velocity (CV). Forty patients (mean age 59 ± 9.2 years, AF duration 12.9 ± 9.2 months, LA area: 28 ± 5.2, RA area: 25 ± 6.4 mm2 , LVEF: 44 ± 15%) underwent mapping during CS pacing. Bipolar voltage (R = 0.57, P <0.001), unipolar voltage (R = 0.68, P <0.001), low voltage (<0.5 nV) (R = 0.48, P = 0.002), fractionation (R = 0.73, P <0.001), and CV (R = 0.49, P = 0.001) correlated well between atria. There was no difference in global bipolar voltage (LA 1.89 ± 0.77 vs. RA 1.77 ± 0.57 mV, P = 0.57); complex electrograms (LA 20% vs. RA 20%, P = 0.99) or low voltage (LA 15% vs. RA 16%, P = 0.84). Global unipolar voltage was significantly higher in the LA compared to the RA (2.95 ± 1.14 vs. 2.28 ± 0.65 mV, P = 0.002) and CV was significantly slower in the RA compared to the LA (0.93 ± 0.15 m/s vs. 1.01 ± 0.19 m/s, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: AF is associated with remodeling processes affecting both atria. The more accessible RA provides an insight into the biatrial process associated with AF in various disease states without trans-septal access.

Determining the Optimal Dose of Adenosine for Unmasking Dormant Pulmonary Vein Conduction Following Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Electrophysiological and Hemodynamic Assessment. DORMANT-AF Study.

INTRODUCTION: ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND HEMODYNAMIC ASSESSMENT. DORMANT-AF STUDY: The significance of adenosine induced dormant pulmonary vein (PV) conduction in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation remains controversial. The optimal dose of adenosine to determine dormant PV conduction is yet to be systematically explored. METHODS AND RESULTS: ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND HEMODYNAMIC ASSESSMENT. DORMANT-AF STUDY: Consecutive patients undergoing index AF ablation received 3 adenosine doses (12, 18, and 24 mg) in a randomized blinded order, immediately after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Electrophysiological (PR prolongation, AV block (AVB) and PV reconnection) and hemodynamic (BP) parameters were measured. A total, 339 doses (113/dose) assessed 191 PVs in 50 patients (66% male, 72% PAF, 52% hypertensive). Dormant PV conduction occurred in 28% of patients (16.5% [32] of PVs). All cases were associated with AVB (AVB: PV reconnection vs. no PV reconnection 100% vs. 83%, P = 0.007). AVB occurred more frequently at 24 mg versus 12 mg (92% vs. 82%, P = 0.019) but not versus 18 mg (91%, P = 0.62). AVB duration progressed between 12 mg (12.0 ± 8.9 seconds), 18 mg (16.1 ± 9.1 seconds, P = 0.001), and 24 mg (19.0 ± 9.3 seconds, P < 0.001) doses. MBP fell further at 24 mg (ΔMBP: 27 ± 12 mmHg) and 18 mg (26 ± 13 mmHg) doses compared to 12 mg (22 ± 10 mmHg vs., P < 0.001). A significant reduction in AVB in patients >110 kg (65% vs. 91% in 70-110 kg group, P < 0.001) in response to adenosine was seen. CONCLUSION: ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND HEMODYNAMIC ASSESSMENT. DORMANT-AF STUDY: An adenosine dose producing AVB is required to unmask dormant PV conduction. AVB is significantly reduced in patients >110 kg. Weight and dosing variability may in part explain the conflicting results of studies evaluating the clinical utility of adenosine in PVI.

Pulmonary vein activity does not predict the outcome of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation: A long-term multicenter prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) remains the cornerstone of catheter ablation (CA) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) (PeAF), although less successful than for paroxysmal AF. Whether rapid or fibrillatory (PV AF) PV firing may identify patients with PeAF more likely to benefit from a PV-based ablation approach is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the PV cycle length (PVCL) and the PV AF outcome after CA. METHODS: Before ablation, the multipolar catheter was placed in each PV and the left atrial appendage (LAA) for 100 consecutive cycles. The presence of PV AF, the average PVCL of all 4 veins (PV4VAverage), the fastest vein average (PVFVAverage), the fastest cycle length (PVFast) both individually and relative to the average LAA cycle length were calculated. The ablation strategy included PVI and posterior wall isolation with a minimum of 12 months follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients underwent CA (age 62 ± 9.1 years; CHA2DS2-VASC score 1.6 ± 1.1; left ventricular ejection fraction 48% ± 13%; left atrial area 31 ± 8.7 cm2; AF duration 16 ± 17 months). PVI was achieved in 100% of patients. Multiprocedure success (MPS; freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia episodes lasting >30 seconds) was achieved in 76% of patients at 24 ± 8.1 months of follow-up after 1.2 ± 0.4 procedures. PV activity was not associated with MPS either absolutely (PV4VAverage [MPS no vs yes: 178 ± 27 ms vs 177 ± 24 ms; P = .92], PVFVAverage [P = .69], or PVFast [P = .82]) or as a ratio relative to the LAA cycle length (PV4VAverage/LAA 1.05 ± 0.11 vs 1.06 ± 0.21; P = .87). The presence of PV AF (31% vs 47%; P = .13) did not predict MPS. CONCLUSION: The rapidity of PV firing or presence of fibrillation within the PV was not predictive of outcome of CA for PeAF. PV activity does not identify patients most likely to benefit from a PV-based ablation strategy.

Biatrial Electrical and Structural Atrial Changes in Heart Failure: Electroanatomic Mapping in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in Humans.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to characterize the biatrial substrate in heart failure (HF) and persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF). BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and HF frequently coexist; however, the contribution of HF to the biatrial substrate in PeAF is unclear. METHODS: Consecutive patients with PeAF and normal left ventricular (NLV) systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] >55%) or idiopathic cardiomyopathy (LVEF ≤45%) undergoing AF ablation were enrolled. In AF, pulmonary vein (PV) cycle length (PVCL) was recorded via a multipolar catheter in each PV and in the left atrial appendage for 100 consecutive cycles. After electrical cardioversion, biatrial electroanatomic mapping was performed. Complex electrograms, voltage, scarring, and conduction velocity were assessed. RESULTS: Forty patients, 20 patients with HF (mean age: 62 ± 8.9 years; AF duration: 15 ± 11 months; LVEF: 33 ± 8.4%) and 20 with NLV (mean age: 59 ± 6.7 years; AF duration: 14 ± 9.1 months; p = 0.69; mean LVEF: 61 ± 3.6%; p < 0.001), were enrolled. HF reduced biatrial tissue voltage (p < 0.001) with greater voltage heterogeneity (p < 0.001). HF was associated with significantly more biatrial fractionation (left atrium [LA]: 30% vs. 9%; p < 0.001; right atrium [RA]: 28% vs. 11%; p < 0.001), low voltage (<0.5 mV) (LA: 23% vs. 6%; p = 0.002; RA: 20% vs 11%; p = 0.006), and scarring (<0.05 mV) in the LA (p = 0.005). HF was associated with a slower average PVCL (185 vs. 164 ms; p = 0.016), which correlated significantly with PV antral bipolar voltage (R = -0.62; p < 0.001) and fractionation (R = 0.46; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HF is associated with significantly reduced biatrial tissue voltage, fractionation, and prolongation of PVCL. Advanced biatrial remodeling may have implications for invasive and noninvasive rhythm control strategies in patients with AF and HF.

Regression of Diffuse Ventricular Fibrosis Following Restoration of Sinus Rhythm With Catheter Ablation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Systolic Dysfunction: A Substudy of the CAMERA MRI Trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine if diffuse ventricular fibrosis improves in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)-mediated cardiomyopathy following the restoration of sinus rhythm. BACKGROUND: AF coexists in 30% of heart failure (HF) patients and may be an underrecognized reversible cause of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Myocardial fibrosis is the hallmark of adverse cardiac remodeling in HF, yet its reversibility is unclear. METHODS: Patients with persistent AF and an idiopathic cardiomyopathy (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤45%) were randomized to catheter ablation (CA) or ongoing medical rate control as a pre-specified substudy of the CAMERA-MRI (Catheter Ablation versus Medical Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation and Systolic Dysfunction-an MRI-Guided Multi-centre Randomised Controlled Trial) trial. All patients had cardiac magnetic resonance imaging scans (including myocardial T1 time), serum B-type natriuretic peptide, 6-min walk tests, and Short Form-36 questionnaires performed at baseline and 6 months. Sixteen patients with no history of AF or left ventricular systolic dysfunction were enrolled as normal controls for T1 time. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients (18 in each treatment arm) were included in this substudy. Demographics, comorbidities, and myocardial T1 times were well matched at baseline. At 6 months, patients in the CA group had a significant reduction in myocardial T1 time from baseline compared with the medical rate control group (-124 ms; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -23 to -225 ms; p = 0.0176), although it remained higher than that of normal controls at 6 months (p = 0.0017). Improvements in myocardial T1 time with CA were associated with significant improvements in absolute LVEF (+12.5%; 95% CI: 5.9% to 19.0%; p = 0.0004), left ventricular end-systolic volume (p = 0.0019), and serum B-type natriuretic peptide (-216 ng/l; 95% CI: -23 to -225 ng/l; p = 0.0125). CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in LVEF and reverse ventricular remodeling following successful CA of AF-mediated cardiomyopathy is accompanied by a regression of diffuse fibrosis. This suggests timely treatment of arrhythmia-mediated cardiomyopathy may minimize irreversible ventricular remodeling.

Catheter Ablation Versus Medical Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation and Systolic Dysfunction: The CAMERA-MRI Study.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) frequently co-exist despite adequate rate control. Existing randomized studies of AF and LVSD of varying etiologies have reported modest benefits with a rhythm control strategy. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to determine whether catheter ablation (CA) for AF could improve LVSD compared with medical rate control (MRC) where the etiology of the LVSD was unexplained, apart from the presence of AF. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized clinical trial enrolled patients with persistent AF and idiopathic cardiomyopathy (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤45%). After optimization of rate control, patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to assess LVEF and late gadolinium enhancement, indicative of ventricular fibrosis, before randomization to either CA or ongoing MRC. CA included pulmonary vein isolation and posterior wall isolation. AF burden post-CA was assessed by using an implanted loop recorder, and adequacy of MRC was assessed by using serial Holter monitoring. The primary endpoint was change in LVEF on repeat CMR at 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 301 patients were screened; 68 patients were enrolled between November 2013 and October 2016 and randomized with 33 in each arm (accounting for 2 dropouts). The average AF burden post-CA was 1.6 ± 5.0% at 6 months. In the intention-to-treat analysis, absolute LVEF improved by 18 ± 13% in the CA group compared with 4.4 ± 13% in the MRC group (p < 0.0001) and normalized (LVEF ≥50%) in 58% versus 9% (p = 0.0002). In those undergoing CA, the absence of late gadolinium enhancement predicted greater improvements in absolute LVEF (10.7%; p = 0.0069) and normalization at 6 months (73% vs. 29%; p = 0.0093). CONCLUSIONS: AF is an underappreciated reversible cause of LVSD in this population despite adequate rate control. The restoration of sinus rhythm with CA results in significant improvements in ventricular function, particularly in the absence of ventricular fibrosis on CMR. This outcome challenges the current treatment paradigm that rate control is the appropriate strategy in patients with AF and LVSD. (Catheter Ablation Versus Medical Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation and Systolic Dysfunction [CAMERA-MRI]; ACTRN12613000880741).