Fibrillatory wave amplitude on transesophageal ECG as a marker of left atrial low-voltage areas in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Background: Low-voltage areas (LVAs) are frequently observed in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) and may represent adverse atrial remodeling. However, noninvasive method of evaluating LAVs is not well established. Methods: In a cohort of 68 patients with PeAF, endocardial voltage maps of left atrium (LA) were created during sinus rhythm after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). LVAs were defined as areas with electrogram amplitudes <0.5 mV. LA-LVAs were correlated with clinical, echocardiographic, surface, and transesophageal electrocardiography (TE-ECG) variables. Results: LA voltage mapping revealed any degree of LA-LVAs in 50 (73.5%) patients. Patients with LA-LVAs were older, had a longer history of AF, and lower fibrillatory wave (F wave) amplitude on TE-ECG (0.27 ± 0.06 vs 0.39 ± 0.08 mv, p