Electrical cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation is followed by a transiently impaired atrial mechanical function, termed atrial stunning. During atrial stunning, a retained risk of left atrial thrombus formation exists, which may be attributed to abnormal left atrial blood flow patterns. 4D Flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) enables blood flow assessment from the entire three-dimensional atrial volume throughout the cardiac cycle. We sought to investigate left atrial 4D blood flow patterns and hemostasis during left atrial stunning and after left atrial mechanical function was restored. 4D Flow and morphological CMR data as well as blood samples were collected in fourteen patients at two time-points: 2-3 h (Time-1) and 4 weeks (Time-2) following cardioversion. The volume of blood stasis and duration of blood stasis were calculated. In addition, hemostasis markers were analyzed. From Time-1 to Time-2: Heart rate decreased (61 ± 7 vs. 56 ± 8 bpm, = 0.01); Maximum change in left atrial volume increased (8 ± 4 vs. 22 ± 15%, = 0.009); The duration of stasis (68 ± 11 vs. 57 ± 8%, = 0.002) and the volume of stasis (14 ± 9 vs. 9 ± 7%, = 0.04) decreased; Thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) decreased (5.2 ± 3.3 vs. 3.3 ± 2.2 μg/L, = 0.008). A significant correlation was found between TAT and the volume of stasis ( = 0.69, < 0.001) at Time-1 and between TAT and the duration of stasis ( = 0.34, = 0.04) at Time-2. In this longitudinal study, left atrial multidimensional blood flow was altered and blood stasis was elevated during left atrial stunning compared to the restored left atrial mechanical function. The coagulability of blood was also elevated during atrial stunning. The association between blood stasis and hypercoagulability proposes that assessment of left atrial 4D flow can add to the pathophysiological understanding of thrombus formation during atrial fibrillation related atrial stunning.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5732934 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.01052 | DOI Listing |
J Clin Med
January 2025
Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
: The present study introduces our targeted approach for concomitant surgical ablation (CSA) using non-invasive phase mapping (NIPM) and describes its effectiveness regarding freedom from atrial fibrillation (AF). : This retrospective study included cardiac surgical patients undergoing preoperative NIPM for CSA guidance. The primary outcome was freedom from AF six months after surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMedicina (Kaunas)
December 2024
Heart Center Hirslanden Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.
: This study aims to examine the success of concomitant surgical ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation after one, three, and five years. Additionally, important predictors for rhythm outcome and rates of permanent pacemaker implantations were analyzed. : In this retrospective study, we included patients who were referred to the University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland, between 2011 and 2017.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomedicines
January 2025
Unitat de Suport a la Recerca, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 43201 Reus, Spain.
In Europe, the prevalence of AF is expected to increase 2.5-fold over the next 50 years with a lifetime risk of 1 in 3-5 individuals after the age of 55 years and a 34% rise in AF-related strokes. The PREFATE project investigates evidence gaps in the early detection of atrial fibrillation in high-risk populations within primary care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomedicines
December 2024
Arrhythmia Unit, Central University Hospital of Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain.
: Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well-established therapeutic approach for maintaining sinus rhythm, though its efficacy remains suboptimal in certain patients. The left atrium (LA) volume, commonly assessed through transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), is a recognized predictor of AF recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, the complex three-dimensional structure of the LA makes precise measurement challenging with traditional TTE techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Infect Dis
January 2025
State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Rd., Hangzhou City, 310003, China.
Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease characterized by leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, and aspergillosis is a common complication in severe cases. Previous studies have reported cases of SFTS complicated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and central nervous system aspergillosis. Here, we present the first case of an immunocompetent patient with SFTS who progressed to IPA and Aspergillus endocarditis after glucocorticoid treatment, and embolism of the vegetations from the left ventricle led to multiple infarctions in the brain, kidney, and spleen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!