Structural and functional heart model and its hidden kinetic properties in patients with induced atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Aim. To study structural and functional heart model in patients with high fibrillation activity of atrial myocardium. Material and methods. The study included 123 patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and sinus rhythm. Fibrillation activity of atrial myocardium was assessed as high in case of AF induction (>2 min) during transesophageal electrophysiological investigation. Persistent AF (>2 min) was induced in 36 individuals. In another 87, AF was not induced, or lasted for >2 min. Structural and functional heart model was examined during stress-echocardiography, with transesophageal electrocardiostimulation (120/min). Results. Patients with induced persistent AF were characterized by initially increased left ventricular (LV) enddiastolic volume, LV end-systolic volume, long LV axis, as well as by decreased LV wall thickness and LV sphericity index in diastole. During stress test, these patients demonstrated decreased LV end-systolic volume, LV end-systolic size, increased velocity of circular contraction (Vcf st), and percentage of its increase (Vcf st %). Conclusion. In patients with recurrent AF and high fibrillation activity, eccentric hypertrophy of LV myocardium is combined with its hidden hyperkinetic properties and decreased diastolic elasticity, diagnosed during stress test.

Keywords

• induced atrial fibrillation
• stress echocardiography
• heart model