Clinical value of fibrillatory wave amplitude on surface ECG in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation

We postulated that amplitude of fibrillatory (F)-wave in patients with persistent AF would correlate with clinical characteristics and outcome in patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF. Maximal and mean amplitude of F-waves were measured in V1 and lead II in 90 patients prior to ablation for persistent AF. F-wave amplitudes were correlated to clinical, echocardiographic variables, and outcome. F-wave a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand 0.1 mV in lead II and V1was correlated with younger age and shorter AF history, and in lead II only was correlated with a smaller left atrium. Higher F-wave amplitude at baseline predicted AF termination during ablation. Maximal amplitude of a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand 0.07 mV predicted AF termination by ablation with 82%/79% sensitivity and 68%/73% specificity in V1/lead II respectively. An association between F-wave amplitude and AF recurrence was observed. Forty-three percent of patients with mean f wave amplitude < 0.05 in lead V1 had AF recurrence compared to 12% of those with F-wave a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand 0.05 (p = 0.004). Longer AF duration, older age and larger LA size are associated with fine AF amplitude. High F-wave amplitude predicts procedural termination of arrhyhmia in patients with persistent AF and freedom from AF upon follow-up.