Excessive supraventricular ectopic activity is indicative of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with cerebral ischemia.

Abstract

BackgroundDetecting paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in patients with cerebral ischemia is challenging. Frequent premature atrial complexes (PAC/h) and the longest supraventricular run on 24-h-Holter (SV-run(24 h)), summarised as excessive supraventricular ectopic activity (ESVEA), may help selecting patients for extended ECG-monitoring, especially in combination with echocardiographic marker LAVI/a' (left atrial volume index/late diastolic tissue Doppler velocity).MethodsRetrospective analysis from the prospective monocentric observational trial Find-AF (ISRCTN-46104198). Patients with acute stroke or TIA were enrolled at the University Hospital Göttingen, Germany. Those with sinus rhythm at presentation received 7-day Holter-monitoring. ESVEA was quantified in one 24-hour interval free from PAF. Echocardiographic parameters were assessed prospectively.ResultsPAF was detected in 23/208 patients (11.1%). The median was 4 [IQR 1; 22] for PAC/h and 5 [IQR 0; 9] for SV-run(24 h). PAF was more prevalent in patients with ESVEA: 19.6% vs. 2.8% for PAC/h >4 vs. ≤ 4 (p5) vs. ≤ 5 beats (p = 0.003). Patients with PAF showed more supraventricular ectopic activity: 29 PAC/h [IQR 9; 143] vs. 4 PAC/h [1]; [14] and longest SV-run(24 h = 10) [5]; [21] vs. 0 [0; 8] beats (both p4 and abnormal LAVI/a' showed high PAF-rates.ConclusionsESVEA discriminated PAF from non-PAF beyond clinical factors including LAVI/a' in patients with cerebral ischemia. Normal LAVI/a'+PAC/h ≤ 4 ruled out PAF, while prevalence was high in those with abnormal LAVI/a'+PAC/h >4.