Response of atrial fibrillation to therapy: Role of etiology and left atrial diameter

Gordon A. Ewy, Lorraine Ulfers, W. David Hager, Alan R. Rosenfeld, William R. Roeske, Steven Goldman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

Left atrial diameter was measured by echocardiography in 107 patients in atrial fibrillation. The etiology of atrial fibrillation was rheumatic heart disease with predominant mitral valve involvement (RHD) in 51 patients and idiopathic atrial fibrillation (IAF) in 56. The left atrial diameter was correlated to the patient's response to therapy. The mean left atrial diameter was 3.4 cm in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, 3.8 cm in those requiring direct current (DC) cardioversion, and 4.4 cm in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. However, in each of these therapeutic response groups, the left atrial diameter was significantly smaller in patients with idiopathic atrial fibrillation. In the group with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, the mean left atrial diameter was 4.3±.7 cm in patients with RHD, compared to 3.1±.6 cm in those with IAF (p<.001). In the group requiring DC cardioversion, the left atrial diameter was 4.7±.8 cm in patients with RHD compared to 3.6±.5 cm in those with IAF (p<.01). In patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, the left atrial diameter was 5.2±.9 cm in patients with RHD and 4.0±1.0 cm in IAF (p<.001). Left atrial diameter as well as the etiology of the heart disease are important in determining the response of atrial fibrillation to therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)119-123
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Electrocardiology
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1980

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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