Journal of the Chinese Medical Association
Volume 70, Issue 8 , Pages 303-309, August 2007

Role of Atrial Remodeling in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

  • Li-Wei Lo
    • ,
  • Shih-Ann Chen

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Shih-Ann Chen, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Institute, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Received 1 March 2007; accepted 2 July 2007.

Article Outline

Atrial fibrillation (AF) maintenance is promoted by an atrial substrate that is suitable for the initiation and continuation of the re-entering wavelets. During the first week of AF, the atrial substrate is modified by electrical remodeling, with shortening of the atrial refractoriness and slowing of the conduction velocity. Structural remodeling is the so-called “second factor” that facilitates the maintenance of AF in the following months. The ultrastructural changes result in an inhomogeneous conduction and electrical uncoupling, and the enlarged atrium is able to accommodate more circulating wavefronts that stabilize the AF. Reversal of the electrical remodeling develops within 1 week after the restoration of AF to sinus rhythm. However, reverse structural remodeling develops more slowly and may be just partially reversible. The substrate properties during AF recurrences after undergoing catheter ablation are more complex and need to be clarified in future studies.

Key words:  atrial fibrillation , remodeling , substrate , voltage

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PII: S1726-4901(08)70010-8

doi:10.1016/S1726-4901(08)70010-8

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association
Volume 70, Issue 8 , Pages 303-309, August 2007

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