Pulmonary vein morphology in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation initiated by ectopic beats originating from the pulmonary veins - Implications for catheter ablation

Background-Successful ablation of ectopic beats originating from the pulmon ary veins (PV) could eliminate paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Howeve r, information about the structure of the PV in patients with PBF that: is initiated by PV ectopic beats has not been reported. Methods and Results We studied the morphology of the PVs and measured their diameters in 3 groups of patients. Group I included 52 patients (aged 66+/ -14 years; 44 men) with focal atrial fibrillation (AF) from the PVs. Group II included 8 patients (aged 50+/-10 years; 3 men) with focal AF from the s uperior vena cava or cristal terminalis, Group III included 23 control pati ents (aged 55+/-16 years; 17 men). Of the control patients, Il had AV node and 12 had AV reentrant tachycardia. After an atrial transseptal procedure, selective PV angiography using a biplane system with a right anterior obli que view of 30 degrees, a left anterior oblique view of 60 degrees, and a c ranial angle of 20 degrees was performed. The ostial and proximal portions of the right and left superior PVs (RSPV and LSPV) were significantly dilat ed in group I patients compared with those in groups TI and III. Furthermor e, the ostia of the RSPV and LSPV were significantly dilated in group II co mpared with group III patients. However, the mean diameters of the inferior PVs were similar between the 3 groups. Comparisons of the individual PV di ameters among the 3 subgroups of group I (which was divided according to wh ere the ectopic focus was located) showed nonselective dilatation of the PV , Conclusions-Nonspecific dilatation of the ostia and proximal portion of sup erior PVs were found in patients with PAF initiated by ectopic beats from t he superior PVs.