Genetic Susceptibility to Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Atrial Electrical Remodeling and Adverse Post-Ablation Outcome

Geoffrey R. Wong, Chrishan J. Nalliah, Geoffrey Lee, Aleksandr Voskoboinik, Sandeep Prabhu, Ramanathan Parameswaran, Hariharan Sugumar, Robert D. Anderson, Liang Han Ling, Alex McLellan, Renee Johnson, Prashanthan Sanders, Peter M. Kistler, Diane Fatkin, Jonathan M. Kalman

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10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to assess the atrial electrophysiological properties and post-ablation outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with and without the rs2200733 single nucleotide variant. Background: The phenotype associated with chromosome 4q25 of the AF-susceptibility locus remains unknown. Methods: In this study, 102 consecutive patients (ages 61 ± 9 years, 64% male) with paroxysmal or persistent AF were prospectively recruited prior to ablation. Patients were genotyped for rs2200733 and high-density left atrial (LA) electroanatomic maps were created using a multipolar catheter during distal coronary sinus (CS) pacing at 600 ms. Voltage, conduction velocity (CV), CV heterogeneity, and fractionated signals of 6 LA segments were determined. Arrhythmia recurrence was assessed by continuous device (51%) and Holter monitoring. Results: Overall, 41 patients (40%) were single nucleotide variant carriers (38 heterozygous, 3 homozygous). A mean of 2,239 ± 852 points per patient were collected. Carriers had relatively increased CV heterogeneity (45.7 ± 7.5% vs. 35.9 ± 2.3%; p < 0.001), complex signals (9.4 ± 2.9% vs 6.0 ± 1.2%; p = 0.008), regional LA slowing, or conduction block (31.7 ± 8.2% vs. 17.9 ± 1.9%; p = 0.013) particularly in the posterior and lateral walls. There were no differences in CV, voltage, atrial refractoriness, or sinus node function. At follow-up (median: 27 months; range 19 to 31 months), carriers had lower arrhythmia-free survival (51% vs. 80%; p = 0.003). On multivariable analysis, carrier status was independently associated with CV heterogeneity (p = 0.001), complex signals (p = 0.002), and arrhythmia recurrence (p = 0.019). Conclusions: These data provide the first evidence that the rs2200733-tagged haplotype alters LA electrical remodeling and is a determinant of long-term outcome following AF ablation. The molecular mechanisms underpinning these changes warrant further investigation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1509-1521
Number of pages13
JournalJACC: Clinical Electrophysiology
Volume6
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • atrial fibrillation ablation outcomes
  • atrial substrate
  • electroanatomic mapping
  • genetic predisposition
  • single nucleotide variant

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