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Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients: a systematic review

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Abstract

Purpose

The primary aim of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Differentiation based off catheter ablation modalities was not considered due to the limited scope of the current field. Studies that employed alcohol septal ablation for the treatment of AF in HCM patients were excluded as were abstracts, case reports, conference presentations, editorials, reviews, and expert opinions

Methods

Electronic searches were performed in six databases from their inception until January 2014. Relevant studies regarding catheter ablation for AF in HCM populations were identified. Data was extracted and analyzed according to pre-defined clinical endpoints

Results

A review was undertaken of eight studies in which 241 HCM patients underwent catheter ablation for AF. Overall AF-free survival at last follow-up ranged from 47 to 77 % (64–67 %). Sinus rhythm was maintained at last follow-up in 47–82 % (median 64–67 %). AF recurrence ranged from 0 to 66 % (median 35–40 %).

Conclusion

A review of the current evidence suggests that catheter ablation of AF in HCM patients is effective with suitable efficacy and is justified in select patients. Future adequately powered randomized studies should be undertaken aimed at addressing long-term efficacy and complications associated with procedural outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia

    Hakeem S. K. Ha, Sophia Wong & Kevin Phan

  2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Nelson Wang, Steven Phan, Jace Liao, Pierre Qian, Tristan D. Yan & Kevin Phan

  3. Department of Cardiology, Maastrict University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Narendra Kumar

  4. Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    Pierre Qian & Kevin Phan

  5. The Collaborative Research (CORE) Group, Macquarie University, 2 Technology Place, Sydney, 2109, Australia

    Tristan D. Yan & Kevin Phan

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  1. Hakeem S. K. Ha
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Correspondence to Kevin Phan.

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Ha, H.S.K., Wang, N., Wong, S. et al. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients: a systematic review. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 44, 161–170 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-015-0047-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-015-0047-8

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