Restoring Sinus Rhythm Reverses Cardiac Remodeling and Reduces Valvular Regurgitation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Laurie Soulat-Dufour; Sylvie Lang; Karima Addetia; Stephane Ederhy; Saroumadi Adavane-Scheuble; Marion Chauvet-Droit; Marie-Liesse Jean; Pascal Nhan; Rim Ben Said; Iris Kamami; Pauline Issaurat; Elodie Capderou; Camille Arnaud; Franck Boccara; Roberto M Lang; Ariel Cohen

doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.029

Restoring Sinus Rhythm Reverses Cardiac Remodeling and Reduces Valvular Regurgitation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022 Mar 15;79(10):951-961. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.029.

Authors

Laurie Soulat-Dufour¹, Sylvie Lang², Karima Addetia³, Stephane Ederhy², Saroumadi Adavane-Scheuble², Marion Chauvet-Droit², Marie-Liesse Jean², Pascal Nhan², Rim Ben Said², Iris Kamami², Pauline Issaurat², Elodie Capderou², Camille Arnaud², Franck Boccara⁴, Roberto M Lang³, Ariel Cohen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiology, Saint Antoine and Tenon Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Unité INSERM UMRS 1166 Unité de recherche sur les maladies cardiovasculaires et métaboliques, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Institut de Cardiométabolisme et Nutrition (ICAN), F-75013, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/lsoulatdufour.
² Department of Cardiology, Saint Antoine and Tenon Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
³ Section of Cardiology, Heart and Vascular Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
⁴ Department of Cardiology, Saint Antoine and Tenon Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, GRC n°22, C(2)MV-Complications Cardiovasculaires et Métaboliques chez les patients vivant avec le Virus de l'immunodéficience humaine, Inserm UMR_S 938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Institut de Cardiométabolisme et Nutrition (ICAN), Paris, France.
⁵ Department of Cardiology, Saint Antoine and Tenon Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Unité INSERM UMRS 1166 Unité de recherche sur les maladies cardiovasculaires et métaboliques, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Institut de Cardiométabolisme et Nutrition (ICAN), F-75013, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France. Electronic address: ariel.cohen@aphp.fr.

PMID: 35272799
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.029

Abstract

Background: Cardiac chamber remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF) reflects the progression of cardiac rhythm and may affect functional regurgitation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the 3-dimensional echocardiographic variables of cardiac cavity remodeling and the impact on functional regurgitation in patients with AF with/without sinus rhythm restoration at 12 months.

Methods: A total of 117 consecutive patients hospitalized for AF were examined using serial 3-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography at admission, at 6 months, and at 12 months (337 examinations).

Results: During follow-up, 47 patients with active restoration of sinus rhythm (SR) (through cardioversion and/or ablation) had a decrease in all atrial indexed volumes (Vi), end-systolic (ES) right ventricular (RV) Vi, an increase in end-diastolic (ED) left ventricular Vi, and an improvement in 4-chambers function (P < 0.05). Patients with absence/failure of restoration of SR (n = 39) had an increase in ED left atrial Vi and ED/ES RV Vi without modification of 4-chambers function, except for a decrease in left atrial emptying fraction (P < 0.05). Patients with spontaneous restoration of SR (n = 31) had no changes in Vi or function. The authors found an improvement vs baseline in severity of functional regurgitation in patients with active restoration of SR (tricuspid and mitral regurgitation) and in spontaneous restoration of SR (tricuspid regurgitation) (P < 0.05). In multivariable analysis, right atrial and/or left atrial reverse remodeling exclusively correlated with intervention (cardioversion and/or ablation) during 12-month follow-up.

Conclusions: Management of AF should focus on restoration of SR to induce anatomical (all atrial Vi, ES RV Vi) and/or functional (4 chambers) cardiac cavity reverse remodeling and reduce severity of functional regurgitation. (Thromboembolic and Bleeding Risk Stratification in Patients With Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation [FASTRHAC]; NCT02741349).

Keywords: 3-dimensional echocardiography; ablation; atrial fibrillation; cardiac remodeling; cardioversion; functional regurgitation.

Publication types

Clinical Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Atrial Fibrillation* / complications
Atrial Fibrillation* / therapy
Atrial Remodeling*
Electric Countershock
Heart Atria
Humans
Treatment Outcome
Ventricular Remodeling

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02741349