Background: Early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (ERAF) occurs in up to 40% of patients after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (RFCA), increasing hospital stay, need for anti-arrhythmic medications (AADs) and cardioversion, and, possibly, the risk of future AF. It has been postulated that inflammation plays a key role in developing ERAF. Short term postoperative use of corticosteroids to reduce ERAF post-RFCA has not been vigorously studied. Methods: This was a case-control study of consecutive patients undergoing RFCA for the management of AF at a single-institution. RFCA was performed by a single operator from October 2005 through July 2009. Patients receiving intravenous corticosteroids immediately following the ablation and for 48 hours (6 doses) constituted the treatment group. Controls received no intravenous corticosteroids during their hospitalization. All other management strategies were similar between the 2 groups, including the administration of AADs post- operatively. All patients had continuous electrocardiographic monitoring throughout their hospitalization. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the impact of intravenous corticosteroids on ERAF defined as any AF>10 minutes during hospitalization. Results: A total of 68 patients undergoing RFCA for the management of AF were included in this analysis. The overall ERAF rate, irrespective of intravenous corticosteroid use, was 23.5%. The administration of intravenous corticosteroids (n=37; mean±SD dexamethasone mean dose 11.9±4.6 mg/day; range 4-16 mg/day) was associated with an 82% reduction in patients' odds of ERAF (adjusted odds ratio; 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04 to 0.78) compared with those who did not receive corticosteroids (n=31). A dose-response effect was also observed, with a 17% reduction in ERAF odds for each dexamethasone mg-equivalent administered (adjusted odds ratio; 0.83, 95%CI 0.73 to 0.96). Conclusions: The use of intravenous corticosteroids was associated with a dose-dependent reduction in the odds of developing ERAF after RFCA for the management of AF.
Background: Early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (ERAF) occurs in up to 40% of patients after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (RFCA), increasing hospital stay, need for anti-arrhythmic medications (AADs) and cardioversion, and, possibly, the risk of future AF. It has been postulated that inflammation plays a key role in developing ERAF. Short term postoperative use of corticosteroids to reduce ERAF post-RFCA has not been vigorously studied. Methods: This was a case-control study of consecutive patients undergoing RFCA for the management of AF at a single-institution. RFCA was performed by a single operator from October 2005 through July 2009. Patients receiving intravenous corticosteroids immediately following the ablation and for 48 hours (6 doses) constituted the treatment group. Controls received no intravenous corticosteroids during their hospitalization. All other management strategies were similar between the 2 groups, including the administration of AADs post- operatively. All patients had continuous electrocardiographic monitoring throughout their hospitalization. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the impact of intravenous corticosteroids on ERAF defined as any AF>10 minutes during hospitalization. Results: A total of 68 patients undergoing RFCA for the management of AF were included in this analysis. The overall ERAF rate, irrespective of intravenous corticosteroid use, was 23.5%. The administration of intravenous corticosteroids (n=37; mean±SD dexamethasone mean dose 11.9±4.6 mg/day; range 4-16 mg/day) was associated with an 82% reduction in patients' odds of ERAF (adjusted odds ratio; 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04 to 0.78) compared with those who did not receive corticosteroids (n=31). A dose-response effect was also observed, with a 17% reduction in ERAF odds for each dexamethasone mg-equivalent administered (adjusted odds ratio; 0.83, 95%CI 0.73 to 0.96). Conclusions: The use of intravenous corticosteroids was associated with a dose-dependent reduction in the odds of developing ERAF after RFCA for the management of AF.
Authors: William L Baker; C Michael White; Jeffrey Kluger; Aaron Denowitz; Christopher P Konecny; Craig I Coleman Journal: Heart Rhythm Date: 2006-12-06 Impact factor: 6.343
Authors: Christoph Scharf; Hakan Oral; Aman Chugh; Burr Hall; Eric Good; Peter Cheung; Frank Pelosi; Fred Morady Journal: J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol Date: 2004-05
Authors: Ioan Liuba; Henrik Ahlmroth; Lena Jonasson; Anders Englund; Anders Jönsson; Kåge Säfström; Håkan Walfridsson Journal: Europace Date: 2008-06-03 Impact factor: 5.214
Authors: James M McCabe; Lisa M Smith; Zian H Tseng; Nitish Badhwar; Byron K Lee; Randall J Lee; Melvin M Scheinman; Jeffrey E Olgin; Gregory M Marcus Journal: Pacing Clin Electrophysiol Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 1.976
Authors: Gregory M Marcus; Lisa M Smith; David V Glidden; Emily Wilson; Jamie M McCabe; Dean Whiteman; Zian H Tseng; Nitish Badhwar; Byron K Lee; Randall J Lee; Melvin M Scheinman; Jeffrey E Olgin Journal: Heart Rhythm Date: 2007-10-07 Impact factor: 6.343