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Familial clustering of lone atrial fibrillation in patients with saddleback-type ST-segment elevation in right

M Juhani Junttila1, M J Pekka Raatikainen, Juha S Perkiömäki

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, Oulu 90014, Finland. mattiju@mail.student.oulu.fi

European Heart Journal
|January 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Saddleback ST-elevation is common in lone atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Familial clustering suggests genetic links between this ECG finding and AF.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Genetics
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Lone atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia.
  • Saddleback-type ST-segment elevation in ECG leads V1-V3 is a distinct finding.
  • Previous observations in a family suggested a link between lone AF and this ECG pattern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between saddleback ST-segment elevation and lone AF.
  • To determine the prevalence of saddleback ST-elevation in lone AF patients compared to controls.
  • To explore potential genetic factors underlying this association.

Main Methods:

  • Examined 168 lone AF patients and 541 healthy controls.
  • Assessed the prevalence of saddleback ST-elevation in both groups.
  • Evaluated ECGs for Brugada syndrome criteria and assessed familial clustering of AF.

Main Results:

  • Saddleback ST-elevation was significantly more prevalent in lone AF patients (10%) than controls (0.4%).
  • No patients met Brugada syndrome diagnostic criteria.
  • Familial clustering of lone AF was more common in subjects with saddleback ST-elevation (24% vs. 7%).

Conclusions:

  • Saddleback-type ST-segment elevation is a relatively common ECG finding in lone AF.
  • The observed familial clustering suggests a potential genetic contribution to both the ECG abnormality and lone AF.
  • Further research into genetic factors is warranted.
Abstract

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