The amplitude of fibrillatory waves on leads aVF and V1 predicting the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation patients who underwent catheter ablation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the amplitude of fibrillatory wave (F wave) on electrocardiography could predict the recurrence in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who underwent catheter ablation.

METHODS: All consecutive persistent AF patients who underwent catheter ablation at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between November 2006 and February 2012, were enrolled. The amplitude of F wave was measured on three orthogonal leads (leads I, V1 and aVF) on the Prucka CardioLab recording system. The primary end point was the recurrence after catheter ablation.

RESULTS: A total of 54 persistent AF patients were enrolled. Fifty patients (age: 58 ± 11years, 72% male) constituted the study population after excluding four patients lost of follow-up. The duration of AF was 9 ± 7 (2-18) months. Twenty-four patients (48%) recurred during the follow-up of 25 ± 19 months, constituted recurrence group. The remaining 26 patients constituted control group. The F-wave amplitude in recurrence group was significantly lower than control group (lead aVF, 0.085 ± 0.018 vs. 0.111 ± 0.036mV, P = 0.002; lead V1 , 0.116 ± 0.031 vs. 0.148 ± 0.047mV, P = 0.008). The amplitudes of leads aVF (P = 0.023) and V1 (P = 0.031) were the independent predictors of AF recurrence. The sensitivity and specificity of F-wave amplitude of lead aVF < 0.093mV or V1 < 0.123mV to predict the recurrence were 75% and 73%, 68% and 64%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The low amplitudes of F wave in leads aVF and V1 could predict the recurrence of patients with persistent AF who underwent catheter ablation.