Why the study?
Does left atrial size change over time or correlate with the frequency of recurrent arrhythmic episodes in patients with idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?
Observational (n=24)
Does left atrial size change over time or correlate with the frequency of recurrent arrhythmic episodes in patients with idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?
In patients with idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, left atrial size remains normal over time and does not correlate with arrhythmia frequency, leading the authors to suggest these patients may not require anticoagulant therapy.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Should not yet change anticoagulation practice in idiopathic paroxysmal AF; leaves open need for larger prospective confirmation.
Echocardiographic measurement of left atrial size was performed in 24 patients (13 males, 11 females, median age 56 years) with idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (IPAF). A second measurement was done, after a mean period of 20 months. Our study showed that: (1) the patients with IPAF had normal-sized atria, the dimensions of which remained unmodified over a 20-month period; and (2) no correlation was found between the frequency of recurrent arrhythmic episodes and left atrial size. Since atrial enlargement, which is the known risk factor for embolic stroke, was not observed in our patients, we conclude that patients with IPAF do not need anticoagulant therapy.
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Villecco et al. (2008) conducted an observational in Idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (IPAF) (n=24). Echocardiographic measurement of left atrial size was evaluated on Left atrial size and correlation with recurrent arrhythmic episodes.
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