May 30, 2003Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology
Dilatation of the Pulmonary Veins in Atrial Fibrillation:
Why the study?
Is pulmonary vein dilatation present in patients with nonfocal atrial fibrillation compared to those in sinus rhythm?
Population
170 patients, including 75 with nonfocal atrial fibrillation (AF) and 95 in sinus rhythm (SR)
Comparison
Atrial fibrillation vs Sinus rhythm
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
PV dilatation may represent an independent AF substrate; hypothesis-generating for causality and should not yet change practice.
Structured PICO
Is pulmonary vein dilatation present in patients with nonfocal atrial fibrillation compared to those in sinus rhythm?
P
Population
170 patients, including 75 with nonfocal atrial fibrillation (AF) and 95 in sinus rhythm (SR)
I
Intervention
Atrial fibrillation
C
Comparator
Sinus rhythm
O
Outcome
Diameters of the right superior (RSPV) and left superior pulmonary veins (LSPV) measured at the ostium and at a depth of 1 cm using transesophageal echocardiography, and left atrial diameter (LAD) using transthoracic echocardiographysurrogate
Atrial fibrillation is associated with significant enlargement of the pulmonary veins and left atrium, independent of each other, suggesting a potential role of PV dilatation in the pathophysiology of AF.
Cite This Study
Knackstedt et al. (2003) studied this question.