Value of tissue Doppler imaging and peak acceleration time in prediction of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Aim: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in the population and its prevalance increases with age; and also is the most morbid and mortal arrhythmia. Usually the beginning of the persistant atrial fibrillation is recurrent episodes of the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Prediction of the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation can cause prevention of this arrhythmia and thus prevention of the adverse outcomes. We aimed to investigate tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and peak acceleration time (pkAcc) parameters that can predict the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in this study. Material and Methods: 20-73 years old (mean 47,5) 50 individuals that are diagnosed with PAF included the patient group. 50 individuals who have the similar baseline demographic charasteristics with patient group and who have no persistant or PAF included the control group. Transthoracic echocardiogaphic (TTE) evaluation is applied all of the control and study groups. Tissue Doppler parameters and pkAcc is measured in TTE and statistical analyses is performed. Results: In TTE evaluation, left atrium ejection fraction is lower in the patient group than the study group (%50,6 vs. %59,2, p<0,001). In TDI evaluation, the average of E/E’ which was measured from the anterior, inferior, lateral and septal walls of the left ventricle; is found higher in the patient group compared to the control group (8,17 vs. 7,04; p=0,004). When two groups are compared in terms of pkAcc, it was found that patient group is higher, but this difference did not reach the statistical significance (1063 vs. 994, p=0,14). Conclusions: TDI evaluation can play an important role in prediction of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.