Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Sympathetic toggled paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and recurrent premature atrial contractions in ambulatory patients
Authors' conclusion
A single SKNA burst can toggle short-duration PAF and PAC cluster episodes on and off. The absence of continued SKNA after the onset might have affected the maintenance of these arrhythmias.
Study context
- Population
- Ambulatory patients with paroxysmal AF
- Participants
- 8 vs 17
- Comparison
- Study 1 vs Study 2
- Study 1n = 8
- Study 2n = 17
- Outcome
- Whether a single skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) burst toggles on and off paroxysmal AF or PAC clusters
Methodological details7-day ambulatory neuECG recording
- 7-day ambulatory neuECG recording
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
PAF episodes by SKNA pattern (study 1, 124 episodes)
- Type 1: SKNA burst toggled paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) on and off
- 8 episodes (6.5%)
- Type 2: toggled on but not off
- 12 episodes (9.7%)
- Type 3: toggled on a PAC cluster followed by PAF
- 4 episodes (3.2%)
- Type 1–3 PAF episode duration
- <10 minutes
- Type 4: active SKNA bursts throughout PAF
- 100 episodes (80.6%)
- Type 4 lasted longer than type 1
- P = .0185
- Type 4 lasted longer than type 2
- P = .0027
- PAC clusters toggled on and off (of 47)
- 24 (51.1%)
- PAC clusters toggled on but not off (of 47)
- 23 (48.9%)
Further findings
PAF types in study 2 (patients with <10 minutes of PAF)
- Type 1
- 4
- Type 2
- 8
- Type 3
- 0
- Type 4
- 31
Circadian variation of PAF
- Significant circadian variations of all types of PAF
Original publication
Sympathetic toggled paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and recurrent premature atrial contractions in ambulatory patients. Heart Rhythm. Published 16 May 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →