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Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

Spontaneous conversion of atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm following recurrent cerebral infarctions

Kyungmi Oh1, Jeong-Yoon Choi, Byung-Jo Kim

  • 1Department of Neurology, Korea University Medical Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
|September 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

This case study reports a rare instance of atrial fibrillation spontaneously converting to normal sinus rhythm following a stroke. This finding suggests a potential link between brain function and cardiac rhythm control.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation is commonly observed post-stroke, particularly with right insular infarcts, suggesting a cerebrogenic influence on cardiac rhythm.
  • The spontaneous conversion of atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm after a stroke has not been previously documented.

Observation:

  • An 88-year-old male with untreated atrial fibrillation was hospitalized for a left middle cerebral artery territory infarction.
  • During hospitalization, a second ischemic event occurred in the right middle cerebral artery territory.
  • Concurrently, the patient's atrial fibrillation spontaneously converted to a normal sinus rhythm.

Findings:

  • The restored sinus rhythm persisted until the patient's death from sepsis.
  • This case provides evidence supporting the theory of brain involvement in cardiac rhythm regulation.

Implications:

  • Physicians should consider the possibility of atrial fibrillation transforming to normal sinus rhythm post-stroke, especially when no other risk factors are identified in acute cerebral infarction cases with suspected cardioembolism.
  • This phenomenon highlights the intricate relationship between the brain and the heart's electrical activity.

Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationAutonomic nervous systemCerebral infarction

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