Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Coactivation Induces Perturbed Heart Rate Dynamics in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND Recent evidence indicates that sympathetic/parasympathetic coactivation (CoA) is causally linked to changes in heart rate (HR) dynamics. Whether this is relevant for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS In patients with paroxysmal AF (n=26) and age-matched controls, (n=10) we investigated basal autonomic outflow and HR dynamics during separate sympathetic (cold hand immersion) and parasympathetic activation (O2-inhalation), as well as during CoA (cold face test). In an additional cohort (n=7), HR response was assessed before and after catheter-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Ultra-high-density endocardial mapping was performed in patients (n=6) before and after CoA. RESULTS Sympathetic activation increased (control: 74±3 vs. 77±3 bpm, p=0

SUBMITTER: Eickholt C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5910663 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature