Chronic atrial fibrillation ablation impact on endocrine and mechanical cardiac functions

Assess the impact of persistent/permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation on endocrine and mechanical cardiac functions.

In all, 43 patients (40 males, 53 +/- 12 years) undergoing persistent/permanent AF ablation had atrial (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements before day 1, 3, and 3 months after ablation. In the same period of time transthoracic echocardiography was performed. With a mean radiofrequency delivery of 98 +/- 29 min, sinus rhythm (SR) was restored in 30 patients (70%) without DC shock. ANP decreased significantly (P < 0.001) with restoration of SR and then increased until day 3 post ablation without reaching the level observed during AF. At 3 months, ANP was significantly lower than day 3 reaching normal value in 28 (65%) patients and being <7 pg/mL in 4 (9%). The BNP followed the same trend with normal BNP level in 23 (53%) patients at 3 months. Identifiable atrial filling waves on the pulsed Doppler transmitral recordings performed between day 2 and day 4 after the procedure were seen in 18 patients (42%). At 3 months, 39 (95%) of the patients with SR during echocardiography had a significant A wave.

SR following persistent/permanent AF ablation is associated with a dramatic decrease in natriuretic peptides. At 3 months, despite relatively extensive atrial ablation, endocrine and mechanical cardiac functions are significantly improved.