The aim – to compare clinical, laboratory and instrumental characteristics of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and duration of AF episode ≥ 90 days, undergoing direct current (DC) cardioversion, in groups with or without further sinus rhythm (SR) restoration, for the purpose of determining the predictors of SR restoration.Materials and methods. The cohort single-center study analyzed clinical, laboratory and instrumental data from 115 persistent AF patients with duration of its episode ≥ 90 days, who underwent an elective direct current cardioversion. Patients were subdivided into the groups depending on SR restoration effectiveness: 59 (51.3 %) and 56 (48.7 %) patients with restored and non-restored SR, respectively.Results and discussion. The group of patients with non-effective DC cardioversion was characterized more severe heart failure (HF) and more frequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) cases, as opposed to the group with restored SR. The studied groups differed significantly by the certain echo parameters, characterizing the structure and function of left heart chambers. The transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a higher left ventricular (LV) dilatation and more frequent pulmonary hypertension (PH) cases in non-restored SR group. According to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) data, both groups demonstrated the deterioration of left atrial (LA) function, namely the decrease of LA appendage flow velocity ≤ 40 cm/s in more than 60 % of patients. Additionally, the LA spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) was visualized in vast majority of non-restored SR patients (94.6 %). At the same time, only 2 (3.6 %) patients with non-effective DC cardioversion were free from SEC, as compared to 44 (74.6 %) restored SR patients (р < 0.001). The multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed SEC as an independent predictor of SR restoration.Conclusions. Persistent AF patients with duration of its episode ≤ 90 days and non-effective elective DC cardioversion demonstrated higher stage of HF, more frequent demand for PCI, the higher LV dilatation, and presence of PH (TTE) and LA SEC (TEE). Among other associated factors, the freedom from LA SEC appeared to be the only independent predictor of SR restoration in such patients.

The article discusses controversial aspects of modern management of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). The appearance of a persistent form of AF is mainly a consequence of the processes of fibrosis and electrical restructuring (remodeling) of the atrial tissue. However, the question of the causes and mechanisms of the formation of fibrosis of the atrial tissue is quite debatable. The suggestions of experts regarding the division of persistent AF depending on the features of the arrhythmological anamnesis are presented: the appearance of persistent episodes of AF as a stage of disease progression in patients who previously had a paroxysmal form of arrhythmia, or «persistent AF from the beginning». From the standpoint of predicting the course of the disease and differentiating the management of patients, there are also grounds for distinguishing «early persistent AF» in cases where the duration of the episode is more than 7 days and less than 3 months, as well as «late persistent AF» lasting from 3 to 12 months. From the point of view of evidence-based medicine, the paradigm of managing patients with persistent AF is shifting towards the fastest and most aggressive fight for sinus rhythm. Changes in favor of the rhythm control strategy have largely occurred due to the rapid development of catheter treatment technologies. Its effectiveness is generally lower than in paroxysmal AF, which is due to more pronounced structural remodeling of the atria, as well as electrophysiological changes in the myocardium against the background of a prolonged episode of arrhythmia. At the same time, research into new techniques using modification of the arrhythmia substrate is ongoing.

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