Key result
Paroxysmal lone AF shows no significant effect on left atrial size regardless of arrhythmia recurrence.
Why the study?
The behavior of left atrial size over time in patients with paroxysmal lone atrial fibrillation was uncertain due to contrasting previous results.
Cohort (n=20)
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
No LA enlargement in paroxysmal lone AF over 30 months; leaves open arrhythmia-driven remodeling and requires prospective confirmation.
Left atrial enlargement has been demonstrated to occur as a consequence of the arrhythmia in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) in the absence of organic heart disease, whereas contrasting results have been reported in patients with paroxysmal lone AF. In the present investigation the behavior of left atrial size was followed up for an average period of 30.3 months in 20 patients with paroxysmal lone AF since their first arrhythmic episode. No significant changes in left atrial size were found at the end of the follow-up period. In 65% of patients the arrhythmia recurred at least once yearly. Left atrial size at enrollment was not significantly different in these patients from those without recurrences and did not change in either group during follow-up. The results suggest that in patients with lone AF left atrial dilatation occurs only after the arrhythmia becomes chronic. Early restoration of sinus rhythm may interrupt the vicious circle leading to atrial enlargement.
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Rostagno et al. (1996) conducted a cohort in Paroxysmal lone atrial fibrillation (n=20). Paroxysmal lone atrial fibrillation (and recurrence) vs. Patients without arrhythmia recurrences was evaluated on Change in left atrial size. Paroxysmal lone atrial fibrillation did not result in significant changes in left atrial size over an average 30.3-month follow-up, regardless of whether the arrhythmia recurred.
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