Abstract
Low-voltage areas (LVAs) are frequently observed in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) and may represent adverse atrial remodeling. However, noninvasive method of evaluating LAVs is not well established. In a cohort of 68 patients with PeAF, endocardial voltage maps of left atrium (LA) were created during sinus rhythm after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). LVAs were defined as areas with electrogram amplitudes <0.5 mV. LA-LVAs were correlated with clinical, echocardiographic, surface, and transesophageal electrocardiography (TE-ECG) variables. LA voltage mapping revealed any degree of LA-LVAs in 50 (73.5%) patients. Patients with LA-LVAs were older, had a longer history of AF, and lower fibrillatory wave (F wave) amplitude on TE-ECG (0.27±0.06 vs 0.39±0.08 mv, p<.01) as compared to patients without LA-LVAs. The extent of LA-LVAs was weakly correlated with age (R=0.36, p=.03) and AF duration (R=0.26, p=.02), but significantly correlated with F-wave amplitude on TE-ECG (R=-0.57, p<.01). Only F-wave amplitude on TE-ECG was found as independent predictor for the presence of LA-LVAs (OR=1.53, 95% CI=1.09-2.96, p=.03). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve identified an F-wave amplitude of 0.29 mV (AUC=0.788; sensitivity=68.4%; specificity=73.2%) on TE-ECG as the optimal cutoff value for predicting LA-LVAs. As a noninvasive investigation, F-wave amplitude on TE-ECG may be used as an indicator for the presence of LA-LVAs.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Annals of noninvasive electrocardiology : the official journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.