Brugada syndrome is characterized by marked ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads (Bru-ECG) and is associated with a high risk for sudden death. However, it is unclear whether the arrhythmogenesis is caused by the mechanisms responsible for Bru-ECG. The present study investigated the risk of arrhythmias in patients with Bru-ECG by retrospectively analyzing 30 patients (28 men; mean...

AIMS Diastolic late mitral annular velocity (a') measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is reported to represent left atrial (LA) pump function and the severity of LA remodelling. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between a' and LA blood stasis in patients with non-valvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS We enrolled 138 consecutive pati...

We present a case of drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in which episodes of AF spontaneously alternated with a regular arrhythmia resembling atrial flutter. Isthmus-dependent atrial flutter was initially diagnosed and the patient was treated with cavotricuspid isthmus ablation. Two months later the patient returned with recurrent arrhythmias. On the 12-lead ECG there was again evid...

Pacemakers were implanted in 10 of 14 patients with dizziness and syncopal episodes of long duration, due to sino-atrial block. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, notably atrial fibrillation, had occurred in 6 patients. Medical treatment was unsatisfactory in 3 of these and pacemaker therapy was given. This abolished both syncope and paroxysmal tachycardia. Sinoatrial block and supraventr...

BACKGROUND Spontaneous conversion of recent onset paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm occurs commonly and is not affected by low-dose amiodarone treatment. METHODS In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 100 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation of recent onset (<48 h) we compared the effects of treatment with continuous intravenous amiodarone 125 mg per hour (to...

OBJECTIVE To assess the incidence of arterial embolic events in patients with high rate, drug resistant, severely symptomatic paroxysmal and chronic atrial fibrillation who have undergone atrioventricular (AV) node ablation and permanent pacing. DESIGN Multicentre retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS AND MANAGEMENT: From May 1987 to January 1997, AV node ablation was performed in 585 severely...

Both autonomic nerve activity and electrical remodeling are important in atrial arrhythmogenesis. Therefore, dogs with sympathetic hyperinnervation, myocardial infarction (MI), and complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) may have a high incidence of atrial arrhythmias. We studied eight dogs (experimental group) with MI, CAVB, and sympathetic hyperinnervation induced either by nerve growth factor...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of stroke and other morbidity. Adequate treatment with anticoagulants reduces the risk of stroke by 60 %. Early detection and treatment of atrial fibrillation could prevent strokes. Atrial fibrillation is often asymptomatic and/or paroxysmal. Case-finding with pulse palpation is an effective screening method, but new methods for detecting atrial ...

OBJECTIVE. To report the initial experience in using cryoballoon catheter ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation in Hong Kong. DESIGN. Single-centre, prospective case series. SETTING. Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS. Sixteen patients (mean age, 55 years; standard deviation, 14 years; 11 males) with paroxysmal (n=12) or persistent (n=4) atrial fibrillation. INTERVENTIONS. Pulmon...

BACKGROUND We aimed to identify the miRNA expression profiles in left atrial appendage, with the intention of identifying miRNAs that were significantly associated with non-valvular paroxysmal AF. METHODS The RNA samples were isolated from healthy controls (n = 5) and patients with atrial fibrillation (n = 8). To confirm the findings obtained by analyzing the miRNA profile, we measured the ex...