Effect of cardioversion of atrial fibrillation on improvement in left ventricular performance

We measured left ventricular ejection fraction, circumferential velocity of fiber shortening, end-systolic wall stress transmitral inflow velocities, left atrial dimension, plasma catecholamine, and atrial natriuretic peptide levels in patients undergoing elective cardioversion of atrial fibrillatio n at baseline and at I and 3 months. Improvement in overall left ventricula r performance after cardioversion from atrial fibrillation increased in par allel with return of atrial mechanical function and increasing cycle length ; and atrial natriuretic peptide, plasma catecholamines, and left atrial si ze all decreased after cardioversion in a similar time course.