Left atrial wall thickness in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by multislice-CT is initial marker of structural remodeling and predictor of transition from paroxysmal to chronic form

Abstract Purpose We used ECG-gated MSCT to evaluate alterations in the LA wall in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) (PAF) and compared with chronic AF (CAF) and normal sinus rhythm (NSR). Materials and methods We enrolled 3 groups, each consisting of 62 patients with either recurrent PAF (48 males, 65±11years), CAF (43 males, 69±9years), or NSR without any history of AF (40 males, 64±11years) for a total of 186 study patients. In CT, the absolute LA wall thickness (LAT) and LA volumes were calculated. Results In CT, patients with PAF had significantly thicker LAT than those with either CAF or NSR (2.4±0.2mm in PAF >2.1±0.2mm in CAF or 1.9±0.2mm in NSR, p p p p =0.018). Conclusions Alteration of the LA wall may suggest a part of structural remodeling in AF before the occurrence of LA dilatation. LAT in CT seems to be a useful predictor of the transition from PAF to CAF in patients with PAF.