13th International Congress
THE "NEW FRONTIERS"
OF ARRHYTHMIAS 1998

January 24-31, 1998
Marilleva, Trento, Italy

RT-246

Changes in atrial effective refractory period in patients with induced atrial fibrillation

Andrzej Lubinski, Ewa Lewicka-Nowak, Maciej Kempa, Grzegorz Raczak, Grazyna Swiatecka.
II Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia^1,2. The severity of AF, as assessed by episodes frequency, AF duration, heart rate and resistance to electrical or pharmacological cardioversion, increases with time^3,4. Basing on these observations one may suggest that AF produces electrophysiological changes that promote its perpetuation. Recent experimental studies showed that pacing-induced AF modifies electrophysiological properties of atria by shortening of atrial refractory period (ERP)^5,6, sinus node function impairment and the prolongation of intra-atrial conduction^7,8. The same studies demonstrated that consecutive AF episodes have longer timing and are easier to induce⁵. Data concerning atrial ERP behaviour in relation to AF in humans are limited⁹.