The pulse in patients with atrial fibrillation: its irregularity and inequality

In 32 patients with atrial fibrillation the distributions of the R-R intervals and the carotid pulse records were analyzed in an attempt to define and quantify 'irregularity' and 'inequality' of the pulse and its relationship to the mean ventricular rate. Using our definition or irregularity and inequality of the pulse (the percentage scatter around the mean) we arrived at the conclusion that: (1) the same degree of irregularity is maintained with different mean ventricular rates in the range studied by us (digitalis administration had no significant effect on this irregularity (2) the 'inequality' between beats decreases at slower ventricular rates: (3) a relationship with the postextrasystolic potentiation is suggested.