In reply: Impaired myocardial blood flow in atrial fibrillation

Hyperemic myocardial blood flow in patients with atrial fibrillation before and after catheter ablation: A dynamic stress CT perfusion study

“…Coronary artery disease is a common comorbidity of AF, occurring in 17%–46.5% of patients with AF (Michniewicz et al, 2018 ), but, it is also known that AF patients without coronary artery disease often show clinical evidence of ischemia, such as chest pain, ST depression, or troponin release at the onset of arrhythmia (Bos et al, 2011 ; Parwani et al, 2013 ). Indeed, previous studies using PET and MRI have shown a decrease in hyperemic myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve in patients with AF (Byrne et al, 2019 ; Pantlin et al, 2020 ; Range et al, 2007 ; Sugimoto et al, 2021 ; Wijesurendra et al, 2018 ). Impaired myocardial perfusion may be attributable to the arrhythmia itself or to microvascular dysfunction associated with AF (Byrne et al, 2019 ; Pantlin et al, 2020 ; Range et al, 2007 ; Sugimoto et al, 2021 ; Wijesurendra et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Indeed, previous studies using PET and MRI have shown a decrease in hyperemic myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve in patients with AF (Byrne et al, 2019 ; Pantlin et al, 2020 ; Range et al, 2007 ; Sugimoto et al, 2021 ; Wijesurendra et al, 2018 ). Impaired myocardial perfusion may be attributable to the arrhythmia itself or to microvascular dysfunction associated with AF (Byrne et al, 2019 ; Pantlin et al, 2020 ; Range et al, 2007 ; Sugimoto et al, 2021 ; Wijesurendra et al, 2018 ). Catheter ablation has been established as an effective treatment for patients with AF.…”