Impact of left atrial volume, sphericity, and fibrosis on the outcome of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

• Published in: Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 740 - 746
• Main Authors: den Uijl, Dennis W., Cabanelas, Nuno, Benito, Eva M., Figueras, Rosa, Alarcón, Francisco, Borràs, Roger, Prat, Susanna, Guasch, Eduard, Perea, Rosario, Sitges, Marta, Brugada, Josep, Berruezo, Antonio, Mont, Lluís
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2018; Wiley
• Subjects: Arrhythmia; Arrítmia; Atrial fibrillation; atrial fibrillation ablation; atrial fibrosis; atrial sphericity; Cardiac arrhythmia; cardiac magnetic resonance; Catheters; Fibrillation; Fibril·lació auricular; Fibrosis; Heart diseases; left atrial volume; Magnetic resonance; Magnetic resonance imaging; Radiofrequency ablation; Ressonància magnètica; atrial fibrosis; atrial fibrillation ablation; left atrial volume; atrial sphericity; cardiac magnetic resonance
• ISSN: 1045-3873; 1540-8167; 1540-8167
• DOI: 10.1111/jce.13482

Introduction To investigate the relation between left atrial (LA) volume, sphericity, and fibrotic content derived from contrast‐enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CE‐CMR) and their impact on the outcome of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and results In 83 patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF, CE‐CMR was used to assess LA volume, sphericity, and fibrosis. There was a significant correlation between LA volume and sphericity (R  =  0.535, P < 0.001) and between LA volume and fibrosis (R  =  0.241, P  =  0.029). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that LA volume was the strongest independent predictor of AF recurrence after catheter ablation (1.019, P  =  0.018). Conclusion LA volume, sphericity, and fibrosis were closely related; however, LA volume was the strongest predictor of AF recurrence after catheter ablation.