Atrial fibrillation ablation: beyond electro-mechanical matters: reply

Abstract

We thank Dr Martignani et al. for their interest in our work.1 We totally agree that the drop of ANP level at Day 1 after ablation is probably the consequence of acute atrial damage caused by radiofrequency (RF). An acute atrial endocrine stunning was previously reported with surgical AF ablation.2 However, in our study, it reverses within 3 days with concomitant elimination of fluid overload. But the most interesting point is that at 3 months, despite extensive RF application, the ANP level was normal in the vast majority of patients being in sinus rhythm, meaning that there is no longer …