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Left atrial volume computed by 3D rotational angiography best predicts atrial fibrillation recurrence after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation

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Abstract

Left atrium (LA) size is a well-studied predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Yet, there is still little agreement on the best imaging technique to size the LA, and on the most appropriate sizing parameter. Volumetric assessment of LA with three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA LA volume index) might be a valid alternative to the commonly used transthoracic echocardiography (TTE LA volume index). The aim of our study was to investigate whether LA volume by 3DRA at the time of PVI is able to predict the risk of atrial fibrillation recurrence. We analysed 352 consecutive patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation referred for PVI to our Institution. In all patients, LA volume index (LAVI) was assessed by TTE and by 3DRA. Sinus rhythm was restored after PVI in 348 patients (99%). Average TTE-LAVI and 3DRA-LAVI were 37 ± 12 and 83 ± 18 ml/m2, respectively. At a median follow-up of 19 (12, 24) months, 27% of patients had AF recurrence after the first PVI. At the univariate analysis, persistent AF (p < 0.01), use of anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD) (p < 0.05) and 3DRA-LAVI (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with AF recurrence. In contrast, none of the echocardiographic parameters considered, including TTE-LAVI, was associated with AF recurrence (p = 0.29). At the multivariate analysis, 3DRA-LAVI was the only independent predictor for AF recurrence (HR 1.01 [1.00–1.03], p = 0.017). Left atrial volume measured with 3DRA is superior to TTE assessment and to AF history in predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence after PVI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80100, Naples, Italy

    Teresa Strisciuglio, Giuseppe Di Gioia & Emanuele Barbato

  2. Cardiovascular Research Center, OLV Hospital Aalst, Moorselbaan 164, 9300, Aalst, Belgium

    Teresa Strisciuglio, Sofia Chatzikyriakou, Etel Silva Garcia, Emanuele Barbato, Peter Geelen & Tom De Potter

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  1. Teresa Strisciuglio
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  2. Giuseppe Di Gioia
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  3. Sofia Chatzikyriakou
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  4. Etel Silva Garcia
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  5. Emanuele Barbato
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  6. Peter Geelen
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  7. Tom De Potter
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Correspondence to Tom De Potter.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Strisciuglio, T., Di Gioia, G., Chatzikyriakou, S. et al. Left atrial volume computed by 3D rotational angiography best predicts atrial fibrillation recurrence after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 34, 337–342 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-017-1243-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-017-1243-7

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