Acute alcohol consumption is associated with increased interatrial electromechanical delay in healthy men.

Background: Acute alcohol consumption can cause atrial fibrillation in patients with, and without, heart disease. Increased atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) has been associated with atrial fibrillation. We evaluated the atrial conduction properties by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography in healthy men following acute alcohol intake.

Telmisartan decreases atrial electromechanical delay in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension.

Background: Atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) parameters predict the development of atrial fibrillation. We investigated the effect of telmisartan treatment on atrial EMD parameters in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with essential hypertension were treated with telmisartan (80 mg/day) for 6 months.

Assessment of atrial conduction time in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

Background: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is associated with increased sympathetic activity, plasma levels of inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress. These factors can also cause arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial conduction abnormalities in patients with CAE have not been investigated in terms of atrial electromechanical delay obtained by tissue Doppler echocardiography.