European Heart Journal (1992) 13, 1290-1295

Increase in radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction after eardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy J. R. K I E N Y * , A. SACREZ*, A. FACELLO*, R. ARBOGAST*, P. BAREISS*, G . R O U L * , J.-L. DEMANGEAT|-,

B. BRUNOTf AND A. CONSTANTINESCOf * Division of Cardiology and f Division of Nuclear Medicine, CHU Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France KEY WORDS Left ventricular ejection fraction, atrial fibrillation, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, eardioversion, radionuclide angiocardiography. To assess the potential improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction after eardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, we studied prospectively 17 patients, aged 58 ±6 years, by radionuclide angiocardiography at rest. Left ventricular ejection fraction was determined before treatment and at a mean delay of 4-7 months after eardioversion. Return to sinus rhythm was obtained in 12 patients, pharmacologically or by electrical eardioversion. Five patients remained in atrial fibrillation. No clinical, echocardiographic or haemodynamic finding could predict the success of eardioversion. In chronic atrial fibrillation, the ejection fraction did not change significantly: 300 + 91% (19 to 44%) at the first evaluation and29-5±8-3% (22 to 41%) after 4-7months. After successful eardioversion, left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 32-1 ±5-3% (24 to 41%) to 52-9 ± 9- 7% (37 to 71%) (P