| EDITORIAL |
|
| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 2 | Page : 58-61 |
|
|
Multifocal atrial tachycardia: Looking for new solutions to an old problem
Elpidio Santillo
Department of Geriatric Rehabilitation, Rehabilitative Cardiology Unit, Italian National Research Center on Aging, 63900 Fermo, Italy
Correspondence Address:
Elpidio Santillo
Department of Geriatric Rehabilitation, Rehabilitative Cardiology Unit, Italian National Research Center on Aging, Contrada Mossa 2, Fermo 63900
Italy
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/IJHR.IJHR_2_17
|
|
|
Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) is a cardiac rhythm disorder frequently diagnosed in elderly patients affected by several comorbidities. However, MAT can be observed also in younger ages as an incidental finding or in association with heart and lung diseases. MAT is characterized by heart rate >100 beats/min and at least three different P waves when compared to sinus P wave. Recent guidelines recommend the use of beta-blockers and verapamil for rate control and ongoing management of MAT. Unfortunately, electrical cardioversion and antiarrhythmic drugs have been demonstrated not always effective in MAT treatment. Intravenous magnesium seems a promising therapy in restoring sinus rhythm in patients who developed MAT. Moreover, in the last years, innovative strategies such as atrioventricular junction modification, ablate and pace approach, and electrophysiological isolation of firing sites have been successfully tested as curative treatment in selected cases of MAT resistant to drug therapy.
|
|
|
|
| [FULL TEXT] [PDF]* |
|
 |
|
