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Guichard JB, Guasch E, Roche F, Da Costa A, Mont L. Premature atrial contractions: A predictor of atrial fibrillation and a relevant marker of atrial cardiomyopathy. Front Physiol 2022; 13:971691. [PMID: 36353376 PMCID: PMC9638131 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.971691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
An increased burden of premature atrial contractions (PACs) has long been considered a benign phenomenon. However, strong evidence of their involvement in the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF), ischemic stroke, and excess mortality suggests the need for management. The central question to be resolved is whether increased ectopic atrial rhythm is only a predictor of AF or whether it is a marker of atrial cardiomyopathy and therefore of ischemic stroke. After reviewing the pathophysiology of PACs and its impact on patient prognosis, this mini-review proposes to 1) detail the physiological and clinical elements linking PACs and AF, 2) present the evidence in favor of supraventricular ectopic activity as a marker of cardiomyopathy, and 3) outline the current limitations of this concept and the potential future clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Guichard
- Arrhythmia Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi iSunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France
- Sainbiose, DVH, Inserm U1059, University Hospital of Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Eduard Guasch
- Arrhythmia Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi iSunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Frederic Roche
- Sainbiose, DVH, Inserm U1059, University Hospital of Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Antoine Da Costa
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France
- Sainbiose, DVH, Inserm U1059, University Hospital of Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Lluís Mont
- Arrhythmia Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi iSunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
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