Reverse Remodeling of the Left Cardiac Chambers After Catheter Ablation After 1 Year in a Series of Patients With Isolated Atrial Fibrillation Catheter ablation in selected patients with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction and persistent atrial fibrillation unresponsive to current cardioversion. Success of Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Isolated Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction: A Comparison to Systolic Dysfunction and Normal Ventricular Function Pulmonary vein vestibule ablation for the control of atrial fibrillation in patients with impaired left ventricular function. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Catheter Ablation Versus Medical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure (The CAMTAF Trial) Efficacy, safety, and outcomes of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Long-Term Improvement in Left Ventricular Strain After Successful Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Preserved Left Ventricular Systolic Function Ablation vs medical therapy in the setting of symptomatic atrial fibrillation and left ventricular dysfunction. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction by itself does not influence outcome of atrial fibrillation ablation Catheter ablation versus standard conventional treatment in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation (CASTLE-AF) - study design. Catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation improves cardiac function: a prospective study on the impact of atrial fibrillation ablation on left ventricular function assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Catheter Ablation Versus Medical Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation and Systolic Dysfunction: The CAMERA-MRI Study. Prognostic value of short-deceleration time of mitral inflow E velocity: implications in patients with atrial fibrillation and left-ventricular systolic dysfunction.
Background — Isolated atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is associated with mild enlargement of the left atrium ( LA ) and left ventricular ( LV ) diastolic dysfunction . The impact of ablation of isolated AF on left chamber size and function is unclear , and whether diastolic dysfunction is the cause or the consequence of AF remains unknown . The objective of this prospect i ve study was to evaluate the impact of sinus rhythm restoration by catheter ablation on LV diastolic dysfunction , LA morphology , and mechanical function . Methods and Results — Forty-eight patients with isolated AF were studied by serial echocardiographic studies at baseline and at 1- , 3- , 6- , 9- , and 12-month intervals after radiofrequency ablation .  LA dimensions and mechanical function and LV systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated at each time interval . Diastolic function was assessed with conventional Doppler parameters and new indexes such as tissue Doppler imaging , mitral flow propagation velocity , and combined criteria . LV diastolic dysfunction was present in paroxysmal and chronic AF patients with a reduction of tissue Doppler imaging lateral early diastolic peak velocity in 37 % ( P<0.001 ) and 48 % ( P<0.01 ) , respectively , compared with healthy control subjects . At the end of the follow-up , LA area decreased significantly by 18 % ( P<0.001 ) in paroxysmal and 23 % ( P<0.05 ) in chronic AF patients . Diastolic function improved significantly with an increase in lateral early diastolic peak velocity of 29 % ( P<0.001 ) in paroxysmal AF and 46 % ( P<0.05 ) in chronic AF patients . A significant increase in LV ejection fraction was also noted for both groups : 7.7 % and 18.8 % , respectively . Conclusions — This study demonstrates reverse morphological remodeling of the LA and improvement of LV diastolic and systolic functions after restoration of sinus rhythm by ablation for isolated AF . Because patients with isolated AF have none of the traditional causes of LV diastolic dysfunction , our findings suggest that AF may be partly the cause rather than the consequence of diastolic dysfunction AIMS In congestive heart failure ( CHF ) patients with persistent atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , direct current cardioversion ( DCC ) may reveal participation of tachycardiamediated process to left ventricular ( LV ) dysfunction by restoring sinus rhythm ( SR ) . However , if DCC fails to restore SR , patients ' management remains challenging . The aim of the study was to assess the AF catheter ablation benefit in a selected group of CHF patients with LV ejection fraction ( LVEF ) < 40 % and persistent AF unresponsive to DCC , in whom a tachycardia-mediated process is thought to be predominant . METHODS AND RESULTS Between January 2008 and September 2011 , among 129 CHF patients with persistent AF referred to our institution , 34 ( 63.8 ± 9-year old , 24 men ) presented AF refractory to DCC with an estimated high likelihood of tachycardia-mediated LV dysfunction according to a specific set of criteria . These 34 patients underwent stepwise AF ablation and were closely followed up . After a mean 1.9 AF ablation procedures per patient and 17.6 ± 7 months after the last procedure , all patients were in SR . The New York Heart Association class improved from 2.8 ± 0.3 to 1 ± 0.2 ( P < 0.001 ) and the LVEF increased from 30.4 ± 6 to 54.6 ± 6 % ( P < 0.0001 ) after 3 - 6 months of SR , with a persistent benefit as long as the SR was maintained . CONCLUSION Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation in selected CHF patients with persistent AF refractory to DCC and without any other evidence for secondary LV dysfunction leads to a substantial LVEF improvement in the majority of them . However , redo procedures are frequent in order to achieve mid-term SR maintenance Background — The efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation ( AF ) in patients with left ventricular ( LV ) systolic dysfunction and isolated diastolic dysfunction is uncertain . Methods and Results — A prospect i ve cohort of patients with normal and abnormal LV function underwent ablation for antiarrhythmic drug (AAD)-refractory AF . Three groups were compared : 111 patients with systolic dysfunction , defined as LV ejection fraction ( LVEF ) ⩽40 % ; 157 patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction but preserved LVEF ≥50 % ; and 100 patients with normal LV function . The primary end point was AAD-free AF elimination at 1 year after ablation . This end point was achieved in 62 % of patients with systolic dysfunction , 75 % of those with diastolic dysfunction , and 84 % of controls ( P=0.007 ) . AF control on or off AADs was achieved in 76 % of patients with systolic dysfunction , 85 % of those with diastolic dysfunction , and 89 % of controls ( P=0.08 ) . In the systolic dysfunction group , 49 % experienced an increase in LVEF by ≥5 % after ablation , of which 64 % achieved normal LVEF . In the diastolic dysfunction group , 30 % of patients demonstrated at least 1 grade improvement in diastolic dysfunction . Multivariable analysis demonstrated an increased relative risk of arrhythmia recurrence of 1.8 ( 95 % CI , 1.1 to 3.1 ; P=0.02 ) in systolic dysfunction and 1.7 ( 1.0 to 2.7 ; P=0.04 ) in isolated diastolic dysfunction compared with normal function . Conclusions — Although an ablative approach for AF in patients with systolic or diastolic dysfunction is associated with an increased long-term recurrence risk , there is potential for substantial quality -of-life improvement and LV functional benefit INTRODUCTION Congestive heart failure ( CHF ) and atrial fibrillation ( AF ) are frequently linked , and when associated produce additive deleterious effects . In this prospect i ve study , the effects of catheter ablation for AF  in patients with impaired left ventricular ( LV ) function are presented . METHODS Baseline data and clinical outcome have been prospect ively collected in 105 consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary vein ablation for the control of AF .  We evaluated 40 patients affected by LV dysfunction with ejection fraction (EF)<40 % and compared them to the remaining 65 patients with normal ventricular function in terms of changes in LV function , maintenance of sinus rhythm , and quality of life during follow-up . RESULTS After a mean follow-up of 14+/-2 months , 87 % of patients with impaired LV function and 92 % of patients with normal ventricular function were in sinus rhythm , with or without antiarrhythmic therapy ( P = NS ) . A significant improvement in LVEF and fractional shortening was documented in patients with CHF ( 33+/-2 % vs 47+/-3 % , and 19+/-4 % vs 30+/-3 % , P<0.01 for both comparisons ) . Evaluation of exercise capacity and quality of life documented better improvements in patients with CHF compared to patients without CHF . CONCLUSIONS Catheter ablation in patients with LV dysfunction is feasible , not associated with higher procedural complications , and provides a significant improvement in LV performance , symptoms , and quality of life during follow-up Background —Restoring sinus rhythm in patients with heart failure ( HF ) and atrial fibrillation ( AF ) may improve left ventricular ( LV ) function and HF symptoms . We sought to compare the effect of a catheter ablation strategy with that of a medical rate control strategy in patients with persistent AF and HF . Methods and Results — Patients with persistent AF , symptomatic HF , and LV ejection fraction < 50 % were r and omized to catheter ablation or medical rate control . The primary end-point was the difference between groups in LV ejection fraction at 6 months . Baseline LV ejection fraction was 32±8 % in the ablation group and 34±12 % in the medical group . Twenty-six patients underwent catheter ablation  , and 24 patients were rate controlled .  Freedom from AF was achieved in 21/26 ( 81 % ) at 6 months off antiarrhythmic drugs . LV ejection fraction at 6 months in the ablation group was 40±12 % compared with 31±13 % in the rate control group ( P=0.015 ) . Ablation was associated with better peak oxygen consumption ( 22±6 versus 18±6 mL/kg per minute ; P=0.014 ) and Minnesota living with HF question naire score ( 24±22 versus 47±22 ; P=0.001 ) compared with rate control . Conclusions —Catheter ablation is effective in restoring sinus rhythm in selected patients with persistent AF and HF , and can improve LV function , functional capacity , and HF symptoms compared with rate control . Clinical Trial Registration —URL : http://www . clinical trials.gov . Unique identifier : OBJECTIVES This study sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation ( AF ) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction ( HFPEF ) . BACKGROUND AF is a precipitating factor for clinical deterioration of HFPEF . METHODS Catheter ablation for AF was performed in a consecutive 74 patients with compensated HFPEF ( left ventricular [ LV ] ejection fraction > 50 % ) . AF-free probability after catheter ablation and factors relating to maintenance of sinus rhythm were investigated . LV strain and strain rate were assessed by echocardiography at baseline and over 12 months after ablation . RESULTS During a 34 ± 16-month follow-up period , single- and multiple-procedure drug-free success rates were 27 % ( n = 20 ) and 45 % ( n = 33 ) , respectively . Multiple procedures and pharmaceutically assisted success rate was 73 % ( n = 54 ) . No major complications occurred during follow-up . Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that AF type ( other than long-st and ing persistent AF ) and lack of hypertension were independently associated with maintenance of sinus rhythm ( hazard ratio [ HR ] : 1.81 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] : 1.03 to 3.17 , p = 0.04 ; HR : 0.49 , 95 % CI : 0.24 to 0.96 , p = 0.04 , respectively ) . LV systolic indices ( LV ejection fraction , LV strain/strain rate at systole ) and diastolic indices ( E/E ' , ratio of LV strain rate at diastole with early transmitral flow ) were improved only in patients maintaining sinus rhythm at follow-up . CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that AF can be effectively and safely treated with a composite of repeat procedures and pharmaceuticals in patients with HFPEF . However , the current study was a single-arm analysis ; therefore , larger r and omized control studies are needed to verify the benefit of AF ablation in this cohort Background —The effect of successful catheter ablation on left ventricular ( LV ) strain in patients with preserved LV systolic function is unknown . The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term effects of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation ( AF )  on LV strain and strain rate in patients with preserved LV ejection fraction . Methods and Results —In 78 patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF  , speckle tracking strain imaging was performed to assess LV strain in 3 directions ( radial , circumferential , and longitudinal ) at baseline and after 12-month follow-up . The study population was divided into 2 groups , according to the maintenance of sinus rhythm ( SR ) during follow-up . After 13.8±4.7 months of follow-up , 54 patients ( 69 % ) were in SR ( SR group ) , whereas 24 patients ( 31 % ) had recurrence of AF ( AF group ) . No significant changes in LV ejection fraction from baseline to follow-up were noted ( 60±7 % versus 59±7 % , P = NS ) . Circumferential strain improved significantly in the SR group ( −18.3±3.2 % versus −20.4±3.8 % , P<0.001 ) , whereas it remained unchanged in the AF group ( −18.9±3.5 % versus −17.9±3.1 % , P = NS ) . In the SR group , significant improvements in LV longitudinal strain and strain rate were noted , whereas in the AF group , LV longitudinal strain and strain rate deteriorated significantly at long-term follow-up . Conclusions —After successful catheter ablation , LV circumferential and longitudinal strain and strain rate improve significantly in patients who maintain SR . In contrast , a decrease in LV longitudinal strain and strain rate is observed in patients with recurrence of AF Small , single-center studies suggest that catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation ( AF )  can improve ventricular function and reduce symptoms in patients with left ventricular ( LV ) dysfunction . However , ablation has not been compared with a pharmacologic strategy for AF . The authors evaluated patients with AF and symptomatic LV dysfunction ( ejection fraction < or = 45 % ) referred for pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) . They compared these patients with a matched cohort treated medically for AF and LV dysfunction via a retrospective case-control method . Fifteen patients ( 14 men , 56+/-11 years , 10 [ 67 % ] paroxysmal AF ) with AF for 4+/-3 years underwent PVI .  Baseline ejection fraction was 37%+/-6 % and New York Heart Association ( NYHA ) class was 2.0+/-1.0 . Fifteen controls ( 13 men , 63+/-14 years , 11 [ 73 % ] paroxysmal AF ) with AF for 5+/-4 years were treated medically for AF . Baseline ejection fraction was 34%+/-11 % and NYHA class was 2.0+/-0.7 . The groups were similar in all respects . During a follow-up of 16+/-13 months after complete PVI , ejection fraction improved ( P=.001 ) to 50%+/-13 % and normalized in 8 patients ( 53 % ) . NYHA class improved to 1.3+/-0.5 ( P=.01 ) . In the medically treated group , after follow-up of 16+/-12 months , no improvement in ejection fraction ( 36%+/-12 % ) or NYHA class ( 1.8+/-0.7 ) was seen . Compared with pharmacologic therapy , PVI significantly improved LV function and NYHA class in patients with AF and symptomatic LV dysfunction . These provocative findings provide potent rationale for a r and omized clinical trial comparing ablation with pharmacologic therapy Aims The objective of the study was to analyse the influence of left ventricular ( LV ) ejection fraction ( EF ) on the outcomes of  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation after a first procedure . Pre-procedural predictors of recurrences after AF ablation can be useful for patient information and selection of c and i date s. The independent influence of LV systolic dysfunction on recurrence rate has not been studied . Methods and results A case – control study ( 1:1 ) was conducted with a total of 72 patients : 36 cases ( depressed LVEF ) and 36 controls ( normal LVEF ) . Patients were matched by left atrial diameter ( LAD ) , the presence of arterial hypertension , and other variables that might influence the results ( age , gender and paroxysmal vs. persistent AF ) . There were no statistical differences in the variables used to perform the matching . Patients with depressed LVEF had higher LV end diastolic diameter ( 55.6 ± 6.2 vs. 52.4 ± 5.5 , P = 0.03 ) , higher LV end systolic diameter ( 40.3 ± 6.9 vs. 32.6 ± 4.3 , P < 0.001 ) , lower LVEF ( 41.4 ± 8.0 vs. 63.1 ± 5.5 , P < 0.001 ) and were more likely to have structural heart disease . After a mean follow-up of 16 ± 13 months , survival analysis for AF recurrences showed no differences between patients with depressed vs. normal LVEF ( 50.0 vs. 55.6 % , log rank = 0.82 ) . Cox regression analysis revealed LAD to be the only variable correlated to recurrence [ OR 1.11 ( 1.01–1.22 ) , P = 0.03 ] . Analysis at 6 months showed a significant increase in LVEF ( 43.23 ± 7.61 to 51.12 ± 13.53 % , P = 0.01 ) for the case group . Conclusion LV systolic dysfunction by itself is not a predictor of outcome after AF ablation . LAD independently correlates with outcome in patients with low or normal LVEF BACKGROUND Electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins by catheter ablation is an emerging treatment modality for the treatment of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and is increasingly used in patients with heart failure . METHODS The catheter ablation versus st and ard conventional treatment in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation trial ( CASTLE-AF ) is a r and omized evaluation of ablative treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with left ventricular dysfunction . The primary endpoint is the composite of all-cause mortality or worsening of heart failure requiring unplanned hospitalization using a time to first event analysis . Secondary endpoints are all-cause mortality , cardiovascular mortality , cerebrovascular accidents , worsening of heart failure requiring unplanned hospitalization , unplanned hospitalization due to cardiovascular reason , all-cause hospitalization , quality of life , number of therapies ( shock and antitachycardia pacing ) delivered by the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator ( ICD ) , time to first ICD therapy , number of device-detected ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation episodes , AF burden , AF free interval , left ventricular function , exercise tolerance , and percentage of right ventricular pacing . CASTLE-AF will r and omize 420 patients for a minimum of 3 years at 48 sites in the United States , Europe , Australia , and South America AIMS Beneficial effects of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation have been demonstrated in patients with congestive heart failure ( CHF ) and significantly impaired left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF ) . However , the impact of pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) on cardiac function in patients with paroxysmal AF and impaired LVEF remains under discussion . This study aim ed to evaluate the impact of PVI for paroxysmal AF on cardiac function in patients with impaired LVEF using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging ( CMRI ) . METHODS AND RESULTS A total number of 70 patients with paroxysmal AF and episodes < or = 24 h were  scanned on a 1.5-T-CMRI before and 6 months after PVI during sinus rhythm . End-diastolic volume , end-systolic volume , and LVEF were determined by epicardial and endocardial measurements . Patients were categorized into two groups regarding cardiac function as assessed by CMRI : group 1 patients ( n = 18 ) with an LVEF < 50 % and patients with an LVEF > 50 % ( group 2 , n = 52 ) . Group 1 patients demonstrated a significant lower success rate than patients of group 2 after a follow-up of 152 + /- 40 days ( 50 vs. 73 % , P < 0.05 ) . Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in group 1 patients demonstrated a significant improvement in cardiac function after AF ablation ( 41 + /- 6 vs. 51 + /- 12 % , P = 0.004 ) , whereas group 2 patients did not show significant differences ( 60 + /- 6 vs. 59 + /- 9 % , P = 0.22 ) after a 6 months follow-up . CONCLUSION Pulmonary vein isolation improves cardiac function in patients with paroxysmal AF and impaired LVEF . These data suggest that an impaired LV function can be partially attributed to AF with short-lasting paroxysms BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction ( LVSD ) frequently co-exist despite adequate rate control . Existing r and omized studies of AF and LVSD of varying etiologies have reported modest benefits with a rhythm control strategy . OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine whether catheter ablation ( CA ) for AF could improve LVSD compared with medical rate control ( MRC ) where the etiology of the LVSD was unexplained , apart from the presence of AF . METHODS This multicenter , r and omized clinical trial enrolled patients with persistent AF and idiopathic cardiomyopathy ( left ventricular ejection fraction [ LVEF ] ≤45 % ) . After optimization of rate control , patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance ( CMR ) to assess LVEF and late gadolinium enhancement , indicative of ventricular fibrosis , before r and omization to either CA or ongoing MRC . CA included pulmonary vein isolation and posterior wall isolation . AF burden post-CA was assessed by using an implanted loop recorder , and adequacy of MRC was assessed by using serial Holter monitoring . The primary endpoint was change in LVEF on repeat CMR at 6 months . RESULTS A total of 301 patients were screened ; 68 patients were enrolled between November 2013 and October 2016 and r and omized with 33 in each arm ( accounting for 2 dropouts ) .  The average AF burden post-CA was 1.6 ± 5.0 % at 6 months . In the intention-to-treat analysis , absolute LVEF improved by 18 ± 13 % in the CA group compared with 4.4 ± 13 % in the MRC group ( p < 0.0001 ) and normalized ( LVEF ≥50 % ) in 58 % versus 9 % ( p = 0.0002 ) . In those undergoing CA , the absence of late gadolinium enhancement predicted greater improvements in absolute LVEF ( 10.7 % ; p = 0.0069 ) and normalization at 6 months ( 73 % vs. 29 % ; p = 0.0093 ) . CONCLUSIONS AF is an underappreciated reversible cause of LVSD in this population despite adequate rate control . The restoration of sinus rhythm with CA results in significant improvements in ventricular function , particularly in the absence of ventricular fibrosis on CMR . This outcome challenges the current treatment paradigm that rate control is the appropriate strategy in patients with AF and LVSD . ( Catheter Ablation Versus Medical Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation and Systolic Dysfunction [ CAMERA-MRI ] ; ACTRN12613000880741 ) OBJECTIVE The aim of this prospect i ve study was to evaluate the contribution of an initially shortened deceleration time of mitral inflow E velocity ( E-wave DT ) to predict survival in patients with left-ventricular ( LV ) systolic dysfunction in atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and in sinus rhythm ( SR ) .  BACKGROUND To date , few data are available concerning the prognostic value of Doppler mitral profile in patients with AF , particularly in the presence of LV systolic dysfunction . METHODS We studied the outcome of 140 consecutive patients with LV ejection fraction less than 40 % . Complete history , physical examination and echocardiography were performed . RESULTS  Chronic AF  was present in 40 ( 29 % ) patients . Over a mean follow-up of 25+/-11 months , 54 ( 39 % ) patients died , 18 in the AF group and 36 in the SR group . Ejection fraction was similar in the two groups ( 31 % versus 32 % , respectively ) . Survival curves indicated a significantly poorer prognosis for shortened E-wave DT less than 150 ms in the AF group and in the SR group ( both p < or=0.01 ) . Using multivariable Cox analysis , shortened E-wave DT was identified as an independent predictor of mortality in the AF group ( exponential of coefficient : 0.97 ; chi-square : 5.82 ; p=0.01 ) and in the SR group ( exponential of coefficient : 0.98 ; chi-square : 5.82 ; p=0.001 ) . CONCLUSION In patients with LV systolic dysfunction , a shortened deceleration time E-wave on Doppler examination appears to predict a similar poor prognosis in patients with AF as with SR
AF ablation in patients with systolic LV dysfunction results in significant improvement of LV function , but the extent of this improvement is heterogeneous .
Patients with coronary artery disease seem to benefit less than patients with other underlying diseases .
These results may be explained by patient selection
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and heart failure are often coexisting major public health burdens .
Although several studies have reported partial restoration of systolic left ventricular ( LV ) function after catheter ablation for AF , the method is not widely applied in patients with LV dysfunction .
We review ed the results of AF ablation in patients with systolic LV dysfunction .