Ablation of the focal source of atrial fibrillation successfully reversed atrial electrical remodeling in two patients with persistent AF.
Case Report (n=2)
Does ablation of the focal source of AF reverse atrial electrical remodeling in patients with focal atrial fibrillation?
This case series demonstrates that atrial electrical remodeling can reverse following successful ablation of the focal source of AF in patients with persistent AF.
Although atrial fibrillation- (AF) induced changes in atrial refractoriness (atrial electrical remodeling) have been demonstrated in a number of different animal models, the clinical significance of this process is unknown. We describe a patient in whom there has been documented progression of atrial ectopy to persistent AF accompanied by evidence of atrial electrical remodeling, with reversal of remodeling following successful ablation of the focal source of AF. A second patient with focal AF, but with a "nonfocal" appearance on the ECG, is also described. These cases illustrate: (1) the possibility that a significant proportion of younger patients with idiopathic persistent AF may well have a focal source as the underlying abnormality; and (2) atrial electrical remodeling reverses following ablation of the underlying source.
Hobbs et al. (Tue,) conducted a case report in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (n=2). Ablation of the focal source was evaluated on Reversal of atrial electrical remodeling. Ablation of the focal source of atrial fibrillation successfully reversed atrial electrical remodeling in two patients with persistent AF.
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