Nos travaux montrent qu’au cours de la fibrillation atriale (FA), les microparticules (MP) reflètent et contribuent à un état d’hypercoagulabilité et pro-inflammatoire. Leurs concentrations similaires dans les deux oreillettes de patients en FA témoignent d’une absence de différence de statut pro-thrombotique entre ces deux cavités cardiaques. Au cours des procédures d’ablation de FA, les concentrations de MP évoluent parallèlement à l’augmentation de l’activation cellulaire et plaquettaire. Nous avons également montré dans l'altération tissulaire des oreillettes en FA, l'importance de la sénescence qui évolue avec la progression du trouble du rythme. Nous avons caractérisé un modèle cellulaire de sénescence réplicative de cellules endothéliales auriculaires de porc permettant d'identifier l'apparition d'un phénotype pro-thrombotique, pro-inflammatoire, pro-adhésif et de mieux comprendre la physiologie de la cellule endothéliale atriale sénescente et le rôle majeur du système rénine-angiotensine dans ces mécanismes. / Our data evidence that during atrial fibrillation (AF), microparticles (MP) contribute to an enhanced hypercoagulable and pro-inflammatory state. Similar concentrations of MP measured in left and right atria of AF patients highlight the absence of chamber-specific enhanced thrombogenic status. During AF ablation procedures, MP concentrations progress in parallel with cell and platelet activation. We also showed that AF progression is strongly related to human atrial senescence burden pointing toward a possible network that links in human atrium, senescence burden, endothelial dysfunction, thrombogenicity and atrial remodeling. We also developed a model of left atrium endothelial cell replicative senescence providing compelling evidences indicating that atrial endothelial senescence promotes thrombogenicity, inflammation and proteolysis. These data underline the major role of renin-angiotensin system in endothelial atrial cell senescence.

Abstract The identification of risk factors for major adverse events after coronary artery bypass surgery is of main importance as it allows outcome prediction, facilitates preoperative patient selection and improves the quality of care. In the present clinical studies we have evaluated the impact of preoperative angiographic severity of a coronary artery disease and preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) on the immediate outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery. We have reviewed the results of off-pump (OPCAB) versus conventional on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CCAB) in high risk patients. We have evaluated the impact of postoperative pulmonary artery blood temperature on the immediate outcome as well. In addition, we have investigated the incidence, timing and outcome of an atrial fibrillation (AF) related stroke after surgery. The multivariate analysis showed that among 2233 patients, the overall coronary angiographic score was predictive of postoperative death (p = 0.03; OR 1.027, 95% CI: 1.003–1.052) and of a low cardiac output syndrome (p = 0.04; OR 1.172, 95% CI: 1.010–1.218). The poor status of the proximal segment of the left circumflex coronary artery, the diagonal branches and the left obtuse marginal artery were most closely associated with adverse postoperative outcome. Patients (114/764) with a preoperative serum concentration of CRP ≥ 1.0 mg/dL had a higher risk of overall postoperative death (5.3% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.001), cardiac death (4.4% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.002), a low cardiac output syndrome (8.8% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.01). Among 179 high risk patients with an additive EuroSCORE6, the 30-day postoperative death and stroke rates were 7.5% and 6.0% in the OPCAB group, and 5.4% (p = 0.75) and 8.0% (p = 0.77) in the CCAB group, respectively. No significant differences were observed in other major outcome end-points between these non-randomised groups either. High pulmonary artery blood temperature on admission to the ICU among 1639 patients was significantly associated with an increased risk of overall postoperative death (p = 0.002), cardiac death (p = 0.03), and a low cardiac output syndrome (p < 0.0001), and was significantly correlated with prolonged length of the ICU stay (r = 0.095; p < 0.0001), and postoperative bleeding (ρ = –0.091; p = 0.001). Among 2,630 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 52 (2.0%) experienced a postoperative stroke. Twelve out of these 52 patients (23.1%) died postoperatively. The ischemic cerebral event occurred after a mean of 3.7 days (0–33). In 19 patients (36.5%), atrial fibrillation preceded the occurrence of neurological complication. The angiographic severity of the coronary artery disease and the preoperative serum concentration of CRP predict postoperative outcome after a CABG operation. OPCAB can be performed safely in high-risk patients with results as satisfactory as those achieved with CCAB. CABG patients with a high pulmonary artery blood temperature on admission to the ICU seem to have a higher risk of postoperative adverse events. Atrial fibrillation occurring after coronary artery bypass grafting is a major determinant of a postoperative stroke.

Les activités électriques ectopiques à l’origine des épisodes de fibrillation atriale pourraient être dues à des échanges calciques anormaux dans les cardiomyocytes (CM) de veine pulmonaire (VP). Le cycle du calcium des CM de VP a donc été caractérisé et comparé à celui des CM d’oreillette gauche (OG) et de ventricule gauche (VG). Des outils ont été développés pour mesurer la régularité d’organisation des réseaux de tubules transverses et la contractilité des CM de VP. Contrairement aux CM d’OG et de VG, l’organisation hétérogène du réseau de tubules dans la population des CM de VP conduit à une grande variabilité de forme des transitoires calciques et d’amplitude de contraction. Au sein des VP, ces différents types de CM sont regroupés en îlots. La fréquence des libérations calciques spontanées est également plus grande dans les CM de VP que dans ceux d’OG et de VG. La population des CM de VP présente une dynamique calcique aux caractéristiques uniques pouvant être source d’arythmies. / Ectopic foci leading to atrial fibrillation episodes might be due to abnormal calcium handling by the pulmonary vein (PV) cardiomyocytes (CM). Therefore, the calcium cycle of PV CM was characterized and compared to those of left atria (LA) and left ventricle (LV) CM. Some tools have been developed to measure the organization of transverse tubular networks and contractility of PV CM. Unlike LA and LV CM, the heterogeneous organization of the tubular networks in the PV CM population leads to wide ranges of calcium transient shapes and contraction amplitudes. Within the whole PV, these different types of CM are gathered in islets. The frequency of spontaneous calcium release is also higher in PV CM than in LA and LV CM. The special features of the calcium handling properties of the PV CM population could be a source of arrhythmias.

Background Many risk factors for stroke are well characterized and might, at least to some extent, be similar for first-ever stroke and for recurrent stroke events. However, previous studies have shown heterogeneous results on predictors and rates of stroke recurrence. Patients who survive spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) often have compelling indications for antithrombotic (AT) treatment (antiplatelet (AP) and/or anticoagulant (AC) treatment), but due to controversy of the decision to treat, a large proportion of these patients are untreated. In the absence of evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), there is need for more high- quality observational data on the clinical impact of, and optimal timing of AT in ICH survivors. The aims of this thesis were to assess time trends in stroke recurrence, to determine the factors associated with an increased risk of stroke recurrence – including socioeconomic factors – and to determine to what extent ICH survivors with and without atrial fibrillation (AF) receive AT treatment and to determine the optimal timing (if any) of such treatment.  Methods The population-based Monitoring Trends and Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) stroke incidence register was used to assess the epidemiology and predictors of stroke recurrence after ischemic stroke (IS) and ICH from 1995 to 2008 in northern Sweden. Riksstroke, the Swedish stroke register, linked with the National Patient Register and the Swedish Dispensed Drug Register, made it possible to identify survivors of first-ever ICH from 2005 to 2012 with and without concomitant AF to investigate to what extent these patients were prescribed AP and AC therapy. The optimal timing of initiating treatment following ICH in patients with AF 2005–2012 was described through separate cumulative incidence functions for severe thrombotic and hemorrhagic events and for the combined endpoint “vascular death or non-fatal stroke”. Riksstroke data on first-ever stroke patients from 2001 to 2012 was linked to the Longitudinal Integration Database for Health Insurance and Labour market studies to add information on education and income to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and risk of recurrence. Results Comparison between the cohorts of 1995–1998 and 2004–2008 showed declining risk of stroke recurrence (hazard ratio: 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52-0.78) in northern Sweden. Significant factors associated with an increased risk of stroke recurrence were age and diabetes. Following ICH, a majority (62%) of recurrent stroke events were ischemic.  The nationwide Riksstroke study confirmed the declining incidence, and it further concluded that low income, primary school as highest attained level of education, and living alone were associated with a higher risk of recurrence beyond the acute phase. The inverse effects of socioeconomic status on risk of recurrence did not differ between men and women and persisted over the study period. Of Swedish ICH-survivors with AF, 8.5% were prescribed AC and 36.6% AP treatment, within 6 months of ICH. In patients with AF, predictors of AC treatment were less severe ICH, younger age, previous anticoagulation, valvular disease and previous IS. High CHA2DS2-VASc scores did not seem to correlate with AC treatment. We observed both an increasing proportion of AC treatment at time of the initial ICH (8.1% in 2006 compared with 14.6% in 2012) and a secular trend of increasing AC use one year after discharge (8.3% in 2006 versus 17.2% in 2011) (p<0.001 assuming linear trends). In patients with high cardiovascular event risk, AC treatment was associated with a reduced risk of vascular death and non-fatal stroke with no significantly increased risk of severe hemorrhage. The benefit appeared to be greatest when treatment was started 7–8 weeks after ICH. For high-risk women, the total risk of vascular death or stroke recurrence within three years was 17.0% when AC treatment was initiated eight weeks after ICH and 28.6% without any antithrombotic treatment (95% CI for difference: 1.4% to 21.8%). For high-risk men, the corresponding risks were 14.3% vs. 23.6% (95% CI for difference: 0.4% to 18.2%). Conclusion Stroke recurrence is declining in Sweden, but it is still common among stroke survivors and has a severe impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Age, diabetes and low socioeconomic status are predictors of stroke recurrence. Regarding ICH survivors with concomitant AF, physicians face the clinical dilemma of balancing the risks of thrombosis and bleeding. In awaiting evidence from RCTs, our results show that AC treatment in ICH survivors with AF was initiated more frequently over the study period, which seems beneficial, particularly in high-risk patients. The optimal timing of anticoagulation following ICH in AF patients seems to be around 7–8 weeks following the hemorrhage.

No description available.

Background: The risk of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and mechanical heart valve (MHV) prostheses can be reduced by oral anticoagulation (OAC), which increases the risk of serious bleeding. The aims of this thesis were [1] to find out how effective and safe warfarin is where treatment quality is high, i.e. Sweden, with proportion of time that patients spend within the therapeutic range (TTR) &gt;70%, [2] whether there is evidence for administering low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) during temporary interruptions of OAC (bridging therapy), and whether non-vitamin K-dependent oral anticoagulants (NOACs) as a group, [3] or individually, [4] are more effective and safer than warfarin when used for stroke prevention in patients with AF. Materials and methods: All four studies were retrospective, based on the Swedish anticoagulation register Auricula, and done with merging of data from some or all of the National Patient Register, the Prescribed Drug Register, the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke), and the Cause of Death Register. In studies 2–4, propensity score matching was performed to obtain treatment groups with similar risk profiles. Outcomes were defined as haemorrhages or thromboses requiring specialist care, or death. Haemorrhages were intracranial, gastrointestinal, or other. Thromboses were ischaemic stroke, systemic embolism, myocardial infarction, or venous thromboembolism (VTE). Study 1 described all patients on warfarin during 2006–2011, which was before the introduction of NOACs. Study 2 was a cohort study of all patients who had a planned interruption of warfarin during the same period. Study 3 included all 49,011 patients starting OAC for stroke prevention due to AF between 1 July 2011 and 31 December 2014, and study 4 all 64,382 patients with the same indication between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015. Results: Study 1 showed that for the 77,423 patients on warfarin with 217,804 treatment years, TTR was 77.4% for patients with AF, 74.5% with MHV, and 75.9% with VTE. Annual rates of intracranial bleeding were 0.38%, 0.51%, and 0.30%. In study 2, with 14,556 warfarin interruptions, the 30-day risk of a bleeding requiring specialist care was 0.64% for LMWH treated and 0.46% for controls. For patients with VTE as indication for OAC, bleeding rate with LMWH was significantly higher at 0.85% vs. 0.16% (hazard ratio 5.24, 95% confidence interval 1.39–19.77), but with no difference for patients with MHV or AF. The incidence of ischaemic complications was higher in the LMWH bridging group overall and for patients with MHV and AF, but not for patients with VTE. In study 3, for the 12,694 patients starting NOAC (10,392 treatment years) or matched warfarin patients (9,835 treatment years, TTR 70%) due to AF, annual incidence of ischaemic stroke and systemic embolism did not differ between the groups (1.35% vs. 1.58%), but risks of major bleedings and intracranial bleedings were significantly lower: 2.76% vs. 3.61% and 0.40% vs. 0.69%. In study 4, patients on individual NOACs (6,574 dabigatran, 8,323 rivaroxaban, 12,311 apixaban) were compared to 37,174 patients starting warfarin (in total 81,176 treatment years). No NOAC showed any difference in risk of ischaemic stroke or systemic embolism, but there were fewer intracranial bleedings, serious bleedings overall, and deaths for dabigatran and apixaban compared to warfarin. For patients starting rivaroxaban the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding was higher than for matched warfarin counterparts, with no significant differences in other bleeding risks, or mortality. Conclusions: Swedish warfarin treatment shows TTR levels that are high by international standards, correlating to low incidences of ischaemic and haemorrhagic events. LMWH bridging has not been proven beneficial, even for patients with MHV, meaning that bridging in general cannot be recommended. NOACs as a group were safer than high-quality warfarin treatment. Efficacy did not differ, even when comparing individual NOACs to warfarin, but there were fewer bleedings on dabigatran and apixaban. Although not more efficient than warfarin with a high TTR, NOACs should be the recommended first choice for OAC in AF, on the merit of lower bleeding risks. / <p>Finansiär: Forskning och Utveckling, Region Västernorrland</p>

Omega 3 poly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) have been shown to protect against sudden cardiac death following myocardial infarction and reduce the risk of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart failure. At the inception of this study, there was one clinical study that reported n-3 PUFA supplementation reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) following CABG. As AF is a very common arrhythmia and as there are no safe and effective means of preventing AF, we designed this study to further validate the findings of the previous study in a more robust study design. In addition, this study also aimed to evaluate the cellular changes that underpin the beneficial anti-arrhythmic effect of n-3 PUFA.The outcome of this study shows that n-3 PUFA does not reduce the risk of AF following CABG. However, short term supplementation with n-3 PUFA reliably increases the membrane incorporation in phospholipids and results in alteration in the expression levels of cardiac calcium handling proteins phospholamban and ryanodine receptors. In addition, such incorporation in animal (rat) ventricular myocytes leads to changes in the rate of decay of the systolic calcium transient and an increase in the amplitude of the caffeine induced calcium transient thereby indicating a greater activity of SERCA. These findings needs further evaluation but is clearly interesting as the clinical situations where n-3 PUFA have been shown to be anti-arrhythmic are situations where cellular calcium overload is the main mechanism of arrhythmogenesis.

La fibrillation atriale (FA) est l’arythmie soutenue la plus fréquente ; elle entraine une majoration significative de la morbidité et de la mortalité. Les mécanismes qui en sont responsables sont encore incomplètement connus, et sa prise en charge n’est pas optimale. Afin de mieux comprendre la physiopathologie de la FA, nous avons mené différents travaux sur des coeurs de moutons isolés et perfusés par un système de Langendorff mais également en créant un modèle chronique de FA persistante de longue durée. Dans un modèle ovin de FA persistante, nous avons ainsi démontré que la fréquence dominante (DF) de la FA augmentait progressivement pendant les premières semaines de l’arythmie, alors que les épisodes étaient paroxystiques, phénomène en rapport avec le raccourcissement de la durée du potentiel d’action secondaire au remodelage électrophysiologique. La DF se stabilisait dès lors que la FA devenait persistante, une fois le remodelage électrophysiologique maximal. L’accélération de la DF (dDF/dt) était significativement corrélée au temps nécessaire à la transition vers la FA persistante. Le remodelage structurel n’apparaissait que secondairement, une fois l’arythmie devenue persistante. Sur le plan thérapeutique, nous avons étudié les mécanismes anti-arythmiques de la chloroquine (bloqueur d’IK1) et de la ranolazine (bloqueur d’INa), molécules entrainant un ralentissement de la fréquence de rotation des rotors, une diminution de la DF et un retour en rythme sinusal. Ces travaux nous ont permis de mieux appréhender le rôle des ces courants ioniques dans le maintien de la FA. Enfin, nous avons démontré l’efficacité de l’ablation de la FA en utilisant le cryoballon (CB) de deuxième génération, efficacité grevée d’un taux de parésie du nerf phrénique élevé, dont nous avons pu prédire la survenue à l’aide d’un prédicteur simple, la distance entre le bord du CB et la cathéter permettant de stimuler le nerf phrénique pendant l’application. Une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes à l’origine de l’initiation et du maintien de cette arythmie, ainsi qu’une meilleure prise en charge thérapeutique permettraient d’améliorer la qualité de vie des patients et d’en diminuer le taux de complications. / Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, significantly increasing patients’ morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms explaining the initiation and maintenance of the arrhythmia are incompletely understood, and the current treatment strategy is suboptimal. To better understand the pathophysiology of AF, we conducted various projects using Langendorff-perfused sheep hearts and a chronic model of long-standing persistent AF. In the model of persistent AF, we demonstrated that dominant frequency (DF) progressively increases during the first weeks of the arrhythmia, during its paroxysmal stage, due to the electrophysiological remodeling resulting in atrial action potential shortening. DF stabilizes once the electrophysiological remodeling is maximal, and the arrhythmia becomes persitent. The rate of DF increase (dDF/dt) was strongly correlated with the time to persistent AF. Structural remodeling appears secondarily, once transition has occured. We also studied the anti-arrhythmic mechanisms of chloroquine (IK1 blocker) and ranolazine (INa blocker), which slow the frequency of rotation of rotors, decrease the DF and favor reversal to sinus rhythm. These projects helped us to better understand the importance of these currents in AF dynamics. Lastly, we demonstrated the increased efficacy of AF ablation when using the second generation cryoballoon (CB), which regrettably increases the occurrence of phrenic nerve palsy. A simple, reliable predictor of this complication was found, the distance between the lateral edge of the CB and the phrenic nerve stimulating catheter. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the initiation and maintenance of AF, in conjunction with better therapeutic strategies will help to improve patients’ quality of life and decrease the complications of the arrhythmia.

Introdução: a fibrilação atrial (FA) é a arritmia mais frequente na prática clínica estando associada à elevada taxa de morbidade e mortalidade. O risco de acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) apresenta-se aumentado em pacientes com FA e há evidência de aumento progressivo do risco com o avançar da idade. A detecção precoce da FA pode permitir a antecipação terapêutica e consequente redução de morbimortalidade. Vários recursos diagnósticos têm sidos utilizados com essa finalidade incluindo o marca-passo cardíaco definitivo (MPD) que permite armazenar registros de elevada frequência no canal atrial. Sistemas atuais de monitoramento remoto contínuo (MRC) do portador de MPD permitem a identificação e o envio diário à distância destes eventos armazenados pelo dispositivo. Objetivo: definir o papel do MRC na detecção e no manejo da FA em idosos portadores de MPD. Método: foi um estudo prospectivo e randomizado com seleção consecutiva de 300 idosos (60 anos ou mais) entre março/2007 e janeiro/2010, em ritmo sinusal e com indicação para implante ou troca de MPD. Os pacientes (P) foram randomizados para grupo de intervenção (GI) em monitoramento remoto contínuo (n=150) e grupo controle (GC) em seguimento convencional (n=150) com consultas agendadas para 30, 90, 180 dias e posteriormente a cada seis meses até dois anos de seguimento. No GI foram realizadas consultas extras motivadas por alertas automáticos de FA com duração mínima de 2,5 horas enviados pelo sistema de MRC. Resultados: o tempo de seguimento médio foi de 435 dias. Não houve diferença entre os grupos (GI x GC) em relação à idade (75,5 x 74,3 anos, p=0,44), sexo (feminino 54,7% x 57,4%, p=0,46), indicação do MPD (BAV 89,7% x 88,7%; p=0,84) e eventos clínicos (incidência de FA 25,3% x 19,3%, p=0,42; AVC 1,4% x 0%, p=0,44 e óbitos 8,6% x 5,3%, p=0,16). Houve mais documentação eletrocardiográfica da FA no GI (10%) em comparação ao GC (4%), p=0,027 e o MPD detectou corretamente a FA em 95,2% desses casos. O tempo para a primeira recorrência da FA foi de 79 x 128 dias; p=0,005. O número de dias em FA foi menor no GI (16 dias; IConf 95%: 8,89 a 23,18) em relação ao GC (51,9 dias; IConf 95%: 21,89 a 81,93), p=0,028. Baseados no escore CHADS2 houve mais pacientes com indicação para terapia antitrombótica no GI (p=0,008). Foram realizadas 55 consultas extras motivadas pelo sistema de MRC com necessidade de mudança terapêutica em 81% dos casos (36% antitrombóticos, 20% antiarrítmicos, 13% reprogramação MPD e 12% cardioversão). Conclusões: o MRC proporcionou menor tempo para a detecção da FA reduzindo o número de dias em arritmia devido à antecipação da terapêutica. Houve mais pacientes com documentação eletrocardiográfica da FA e submetidos à terapia antitrombótica no GI. Os alertas automáticos do sistema de MRC apresentaram importância clínica na maioria das consultas extras havendo necessidade de modificações na terapia antiarrítmica e antitrombótica, assim como na reprogramação do MPD. Os resultados deste estudo destacam o MRC como ferramenta auxiliar no manejo da FA em idosos portadores de MPD / Introduction: atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice and it is related to high prevalence of morbidity and mortality. The annual risk of stroke is increased in AF patients especially with advancing age. Early AF detection should anticipate the management of AF which can reduces morbidity and mortality. Atrial high rate episodes device detected is a good diagnostic tool in PM carriers and these events can be sent daily to the doctor by continuous remote monitoring (CRM) systems. The aim of this study was to determine the role of CRM to detect and in the management of AF in elderly pacemaker patients. Method: It was a randomized and prospective study. Between March/2007 and January/2010 we selected 300 consecutive patients with an indication to atrioventricular pacemaker implantation or generator change. There were included patients in sinus rhythm with 60 years old or more. They were randomized in remote group (RG=150) and control (CG=150). Follow-up (FU) was scheduled in 30, 90 and 180 days and after, 6/6 months until two years. Patients in RG had extra appointment if automatic AF alerts (minimum AF burden of 2.5 hours) were sent by CRM. Results: FU mean time was 435 days. There were no difference between studied groups (RG vs. CG) in age (75.5 vs. 74.3 years, P=0.44); gender (female 54.7% vs. 57.4%, P=0.46); pacemaker indication due to sick sinus syndrome 10.3% vs. 11.3% and AV block 89.7% vs. 88.7%, P=0.84; AF incidence 25.3% vs. 19.3%, P=0.42; stroke 1.4% vs. 0%, P=0.44 and death 8.6% vs. 5.3%, P=0.16. AF was documented by electrocardiogram in 21 patients (RG=10% vs. CG=4%, P=0.027) and the pacemakers detected AF correctly in 95,2%. Median time to first AF recurrence was 79 vs. 128 days, P=0.005. The mean AF days was 16.0 (IC95%; 8.89 to 23.18) vs. 51.91 (IC95%; 21.89 to 81.93); P=0.028. According CHADS2 score, there were more patients with an antithrombotic therapy indication in RG (P=0.008). In 55 extra appointments, there was a therapy change in 81% of them (36% antithrombotic therapy, 20% arrhythmic therapy, 13% pacemaker programming and 12% electrical cardioversion). Conclusion: CRM allowed earlier AF detection which reduced AF days by anticipated therapy. In RG, the time to detection of first AF recurrence was lower than in the conventional approach. There were more AF documented by EKG and more patients with an indication to antithrombotic therapy in RG. Most of extra appointment needed a therapy change with regard to antithrombotic or antiarrhythmic therapy and device programming. The results of this study point out the CRM like a good auxiliary tool in the management of AF in elderly pacemaker patients

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar retrospectivamente, em longo-prazo, os preditores de recorrência de fibrilação atrial paroxística (FA) em 139 pacientes submetidos à ablação por radiofreqüência, através das técnicas ostial ou extraostial de abordagem do átrio esquerdo, associadas ou não à ablação do istmo cavo-tricuspídeo (ICT). Variáveis pré, intra e pós-ablação foram avaliadas por análise uni e multivariada, para determinar os preditores de recorrência da FA após um procedimento. Observou-se que maior tempo de história de FA, uso de mais antiarrítmicos e recorrência de FA dentro de 60 dias pós-procedimento, aumentaram o risco de recorrência de FA a longo-prazo. Por outro lado, a associação de flutter atrial e a ablação concomitante do ICT, reduziram o risco de recorrência ao final de 33 ±12 meses. / The objective of this study was to evaluate in retrospect, in long-term, the predictors of late recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in 139 patients submitted to the ablation by radiofrequency, through the techniques ostial or extra-ostial of approach of the atrium left, associated or not to the ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus(ICT). Variables pre, intra and post-ablation were appraised for analysis uni and multivariated, to determine the predictors of recurrence of AF after one procedure. It was observed that larger time of history of AF, use of more drugs and recurrence of AF within 60 days after procedure; they increased the risk of recurrence of AF in long-term. On the other hand, the association of atrial flutter and the concomitant ablation of ICT, they reduced the recurrence risk at the end of 33 ±12 months.