Increased resting heart rate following radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Increased resting heart rate following radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

AU - Nilsson, Brian

AU - Chen, Xu

AU - Pehrson, Steen

AU - Hilden, Jørgen

AU - Svendsen, Jesper Hastrup

N1 - Keywords: Atrial Fibrillation; Catheter Ablation; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary Veins; Rest; Treatment Outcome

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - AIM: Sinus tachycardia has been observed following radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation for various kinds of supraventricular tachycardia. This study is aimed at determining the occurrence of changes in sinus-rhythm heart rate (HR) after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation in patients with paroxysmal/persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), prospectively. METHODS: Patients with a history of AF underwent segmental or circumferential isolation of the PVs. A total of 62 consecutive patients, mean age 55 +/- 10, was included. Clinical evaluation was performed before and one, three, six, nine, and 12 months following the procedure. RESULTS: Following PV isolation, the mean HR significantly increased from 58 +/- 10 bpm at baseline to 67 +/- 12 bpm at one month, 71 +/- 13 bpm at three months, 69 +/- 12 bpm at six months, 69 +/- 13 at nine months, and 70 +/- 13 at 12 months follow-up. The ablation success significantly correlated with the increase in HR at one month follow-up. In three patients the mean HR increased > 25 bpm resulting in symptoms necessitating therapy with rate-controlling drugs. CONCLUSION: PV isolation in patients with AF may result in increased HR, which positively correlated with the ablation success. This change does not seem to resolve spontaneously after a follow-up of 12 months. Approximately 5% of patients may develop symptoms due to an increased HR, necessitating treatment with rate-controlling drugs.

AB - AIM: Sinus tachycardia has been observed following radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation for various kinds of supraventricular tachycardia. This study is aimed at determining the occurrence of changes in sinus-rhythm heart rate (HR) after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation in patients with paroxysmal/persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), prospectively. METHODS: Patients with a history of AF underwent segmental or circumferential isolation of the PVs. A total of 62 consecutive patients, mean age 55 +/- 10, was included. Clinical evaluation was performed before and one, three, six, nine, and 12 months following the procedure. RESULTS: Following PV isolation, the mean HR significantly increased from 58 +/- 10 bpm at baseline to 67 +/- 12 bpm at one month, 71 +/- 13 bpm at three months, 69 +/- 12 bpm at six months, 69 +/- 13 at nine months, and 70 +/- 13 at 12 months follow-up. The ablation success significantly correlated with the increase in HR at one month follow-up. In three patients the mean HR increased > 25 bpm resulting in symptoms necessitating therapy with rate-controlling drugs. CONCLUSION: PV isolation in patients with AF may result in increased HR, which positively correlated with the ablation success. This change does not seem to resolve spontaneously after a follow-up of 12 months. Approximately 5% of patients may develop symptoms due to an increased HR, necessitating treatment with rate-controlling drugs.

U2 - 10.1016/j.eupc.2005.04.006

DO - 10.1016/j.eupc.2005.04.006

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16087103

SN - 1099-5129

VL - 7

SP - 415

EP - 420

JO - Europace

JF - Europace

IS - 5

ER -