Key result
Atrial fibrillation was associated with fewer earliest atrial activation sites during β-stimulation compared to SVT (1.3 and 1.0 vs 2.6, p<0.01), indicating subclinical sinus node dysfunction.
Why the study?
Atrial fibrillation is associated with sinus node remodeling and reduced sinus node reserve, where earliest atrial activation sites decrease, prompting evaluation of these sites using ultrahigh-density mapping.
Does the number of earliest atrial activation sites differ between patients with SVT, PAF, and PsAF at rest and during β-stimulation?
Observational (n=35)
Does the number of earliest atrial activation sites differ between patients with SVT, PAF, and PsAF at rest and during β-stimulation?
p-value: p=<0.01
Patients with atrial fibrillation have fewer earliest atrial activation sites and a poorer response to β-stimulation than non-AF patients, and elevated BNP levels may predict subclinical sinus node dysfunction in paroxysmal AF.
Ultrahigh-density EAS mapping may quantify SN reserve loss in paroxysmal AF; leaves open any role in guiding therapy.
BACKGROUND: Even a short duration of paroxysmal episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with sinus node (SN) remodeling and a reduced SN reserve or dysfunction. The number of earliest atrial activation sites (EASs) during sinus rhythm decreases according to the decrease in the SN reserve. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the EASs during sinus rhythm using an ultrahigh-density mapping system. METHODS: This study included 35 patients (supraventricular tachycardia [SVT]/paroxysmal atrial fibrillation [PAF]/persistent atrial fibrillation [PsAF] = 5/21/9) who underwent ultrahigh-resolution endocardial mapping of the SN area at rest and during β-stimulation. The number of EASs was determined by the Lumipoint™ algorithm. RESULTS: The number of EASs was greatest in SVT patients both at rest (SVT/PAF/PsAF = 1.4 ± 0.8/1.0 ± 0/1.0 ± 0, p = .04) and during β-stimulation (SVT/PAF/PsAF = 2.6 ± 1.0/1.3 ± 0.6/1.0 ± 0, p < .01). The number significantly increased with β-stimulation as compared to baseline in the PAF patients (p = .02), but not in the PsAF patients. The brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was significantly higher in AF than SVT patients (SVT/PAF/PsAF = 12.3 [10.1-14.5]/25.7 [14.8-36.0]/73.4 [57.6-140] pg/ml, p < .01). In the PAF patients, the BNP level was significantly higher in those with unicentric EASs than multicentric EASs during β-stimulation (28.1 [19.1-46.5] vs. 13.1 [9.4-26.9] pg/ml, p = .03), and the optimal cutoff point for the BNP level predicting unicentric EASs was 21.8 pg/ml (sensitivity 82.6%; specificity 85.7%). CONCLUSIONS: AF patients have a smaller number of EASs and poorer response to β-stimulation than non-AF patients. An elevated BNP level might predict subclinical SN dysfunction in patients with PAF.
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Eguchi et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation (n=35). Atrial fibrillation vs. Supraventricular tachycardia (non-AF) was evaluated on Number of earliest atrial activation sites (EASs) at rest and during β-stimulation (p=<0.01). Atrial fibrillation was associated with fewer earliest atrial activation sites during β-stimulation compared to SVT (1.3 and 1.0 vs 2.6, p<0.01), indicating subclinical sinus node dysfunction.
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