Atrial Fibrillation: Current Considerations for Diagnosis, Therapy, and Management

A special issue of Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease (ISSN 2308-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Electrophysiology and Cardiovascular Physiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 673

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, 37024 Negrar, Italy
Interests: AF ablation; Cryo ballon ablation (CBA); pulse field ablation (PFA); left atrial appendage closure (LAAC)

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Guest Editor
Division of Cardiology, IRCCS Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Via Don Sempreboni 5, 37024 Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
Interests: atrial fibrillation and metabolic syndrome; left atrium, diabetes and atrial fibrillation; uric acid and atrial fibrillation; pulmonary veins dynamic and atrial fibrillation; patent foramen ovale and atrial fibrillation; left atrial appendage and atrial fibrillation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Atrial fibrillation (AF) continues to represent one of the most complex and prevalent cardiac arrhythmias worldwide, posing significant challenges among clinicians, researchers, and healthcare systems alike. As our understanding of its pathophysiology evolves, so does the need for up-to-date, multidisciplinary approaches to its diagnosis, therapeutic strategies, and long-term management.

This Special Issue, “Atrial Fibrillation: Current Considerations for Diagnosis, Therapy, and Management”, will bring together leading experts and emerging voices in cardiology, electrophysiology, and translational research to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements and clinical insights. Topics of interest include novel diagnostic technologies, advances in catheter ablation and pharmacologic therapies, patient-centered management approaches, and innovations in risk stratification and long-term monitoring.

By highlighting both established practices and emerging perspectives, this Special Issue will support clinicians in navigating the rapidly changing AF landscape and stimulate further research and innovation in this critical area of cardiovascular care.

We are excited to share this timely collection with the scientific and medical communities and invite readers to explore articles delving into current and future directions in atrial fibrillation care.

Dr. Giulio Molon
Dr. Stefano Bonapace
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • rhythm control
  • anticoagulation
  • catheter ablation
  • pulsed-field ablation
  • cryoablation
  • paroxysmal AF
  • persistent AF
  • left atrial appendage (LAA)
  • antiarrhythmic drug

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 680 KB  
Article
Left Ventricular Mechanics Are Associated with Short-Term Sinus Rhythm Maintenance After Electrical Cardioversion in Atrial Fibrillation
by Beata Uziębło-Życzkowska, Paulina Skalska, Marek Kiliszek, Małgorzata Kurpaska and Paweł Krzesiński
J. Cardiovasc. Dev. Dis. 2026, 13(3), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd13030138 - 13 Mar 2026
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Abstract
(1) Background: Electrical cardioversion (ECV) is effective in restoring sinus rhythm (SR) in atrial fibrillation (AF), but the extent of atrioventricular remodeling and determinants of short-term rhythm maintenance remain unclear. This study evaluated echocardiographic changes following ECV and explored parameters associated with SR [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Electrical cardioversion (ECV) is effective in restoring sinus rhythm (SR) in atrial fibrillation (AF), but the extent of atrioventricular remodeling and determinants of short-term rhythm maintenance remain unclear. This study evaluated echocardiographic changes following ECV and explored parameters associated with SR persistence. (2) Methods: We prospectively enrolled 94 patients undergoing elective ECV and performed comprehensive echocardiography before, 24 h after, and 30 days after the procedure. Rhythm status was assessed at scheduled follow-up visits. Due to the limited sample size, failure to meet the assumptions required for regression analyses, and non-normal data distributions, the analyses were primarily non-parametric and exploratory. (3) Results: Among 94 patients (mean age 65.9 +/− 9.3 years; 69% male), SR was maintained in 76 patients at 24 h and 49 patients at 30 days. Patients with sustained SR showed progressive improvement in LA reservoir strain, LA emptying fraction, and LA stiffness index, consistent with reverse atrial remodeling. Left ventricular (LV) function also improved, including LV ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, and myocardial work indices. Between-group analyses identified several baseline LV parameters (including global wasted work, global work efficiency, LV end-systolic volume, LV end-systolic diameter, and global work index) with moderate effect sizes and possible association with short-term SR maintenance. (4) Conclusions: Successful ECV is associated with significant short-term atrioventricular functional improvement. In this exploratory single-center cohort, selected LV mechanical parameters were associated with short-term SR maintenance, while LA functional parameters mainly reflected reverse remodeling after rhythm restoration. Larger studies with longer follow-up and adjusted analyses are needed. Full article
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