Left Atrial Size Changes in Patients with Paroxysmal Lone Atrial Fibrillation: An Echocardiographic Follow-up

Left atrial enlargement has been demonstrated to occur as a consequence of the arrhythmia in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) in the absence of organic heart disease, whereas contrasting results have been reported in patients with paroxysmal lone AF. In the present investigation the behavior of left atrial size was followed up for an average period of 30.3 months in 20 patients with paroxysmal lone AF since their first arrhythmic episode. No significant changes in left atrial size were found at the end of the follow-up period. In 65% of patients the arrhythmia recurred at least once yearly. Left atrial size at enrollment was not significantly different in these patients from those without recurrences and did not change in either group during follow-up. The results suggest that in patients with lone AF left atrial dilatation occurs only after the arrhythmia becomes chronic. Early restoration of sinus rhythm may interrupt the vicious circle leading to atrial enlargement.