Pan Nan-Hung, Tsao Hsuan-Ming, Chang Nen-Chung, Chen Yi-Jen, Chen Shih-Ann
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Taipei Medical University and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chest. 2008 Jan;133(1):190-6. doi: 10.1378/chest.07-1769.
Aging plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF). The left atrium (LA) and pulmonary veins (PVs) are essential components for the genesis and maintenance of AF. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aging on the AF substrate and the initiator (PVs).
A total of 180 patients undergoing multidetector CT were enrolled and classified into six groups according to the decade of their age. LA, LA appendage (LAA), and orifice of the four PVs were measured.
The LA anterior-posterior diameter and wall thickness became increased with aging after the age of 50 years (p < 0.001). Similarly, the LAA and four PV trunks also became dilated after the patients were > 50 years old (p < 0.001). The anterior wall was consistently thicker than the posterior wall in each group. Aging also increased both anterior and posterior wall thickness after the patients became > 50 years old. However, LA diameter, PV diameter, and LA wall thickness in the patients aged 70 to 79 years and > 80 years did not significantly differ. Age correlated well with the four PVs, LA diameter, and wall thickness with linear regression.
Age significantly determines LA and PV structures. These findings show the important contributing effects involved in aging-induced AF in the general population.
衰老在心房颤动（AF）的病理生理学中起关键作用。左心房（LA）和肺静脉（PVs）是房颤发生和维持的重要组成部分。本研究的目的是探讨衰老对房颤基质和起始部位（肺静脉）的影响。
共纳入180例行多层螺旋CT检查的患者，并根据年龄分为六组。测量左心房、左心耳（LAA）和四条肺静脉的开口。
50岁以后，左心房前后径和壁厚度随年龄增长而增加（p < 0.001）。同样，患者年龄> 50岁后，左心耳和四条肺静脉主干也出现扩张（p < 0.001）。每组前壁始终比后壁厚。患者年龄> 50岁后，衰老也增加了前壁和后壁厚度。然而，70至79岁和> 80岁患者的左心房直径、肺静脉直径和左心房壁厚度无显著差异。年龄与四条肺静脉、左心房直径和壁厚度通过线性回归具有良好的相关性。
年龄显著决定左心房和肺静脉结构。这些发现表明衰老在普通人群中导致房颤的重要作用。
