Asymptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Revealed Only by Pacemaker Memory Does Not Increase the Risk of Brain Embolism

概要

論文の詳細を見る
Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) was one of the major causes of brain embolism. Permanent pacemaker could monitor heart rhythm and could detect atrial high rate episode (AHRE) including a majority of asymptomatic paroxysmal AF. However, it remains unclear that the AHRE revealed by pacemaker memory increase the risks of brain embolism. Methods: We enrolled 1016 patients who received routine pacemaker check in our hospital between January 2007 and December 2007. Atrial high rate episode (AHRE) was analyzed, and we divided these patients into three groups according to the existence of clinical AF and AHRE. Group A: the patients had AHRE without clinical AF (n=314), Group B: the patients had neither clinical AF nor AHRE (n=177), Group C: patients had clinical AF (n=525). We followed these patients from January 2008 to December 2010, and analyzed brain embolic events (mean follow-up periods: 3.5 years). Results: The patients with clinical AF (Group C) developed brain infarction (0.57%/year; 9/525) to compare with the other groups significantly (p<0.01). However, the incidence of brain infarction was not different between patients with and without AHRE (Group A: 1⁄314=0.3% and Group B: 1⁄177=0.6%). Conclusion: Asymptomatic paroxysmal AF revealed only by pacemaker memory did not increase brain embolic events.
日本不整脈学会の論文