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Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) promotes left atrial (LA) remodeling and vice versa. LA volume index (LAVI) ≥34 mL/m2 is an established cut-off value for identifying an enlarged left atrium. Catheter ablation has become an established therapy for AF and provides a reduction of LA volume by maintaining sinus rhythm (reverse remodeling). However, the definition of LA reverse remodeling after AF ablation is undetermined. Purpose We hypothesized that patients with LA dilatation who obtain normal LA volume (LAVI Methods We enrolled 140 AF patients with baseline LAVI ≥34 mL/m2, without AF recurrence for 1 year after the initial AF ablation. We acquired conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters within 24 h and at 1 year after the procedure. Late recurrence was defined as AF recurrence >1 year after the initial ablation. To define the normal range of LA function, age-and sex-matched 140 controls without a history of AF were also enrolled. Results After restoration of sinus rhythm, overall LA structural and functional parameters were significantly improved, and 75 patients (54%) had normal LA volume at the time of follow-up (Table). During a median follow-up of 44 (31–61) months, 32 patients (23%) experienced a late recurrence of AF. Patients who obtained normal LA volume after AF ablation had fewer late recurrences than those who did not (P Conclusion Patients who obtain normal LA volume have better long-term outcomes of AF ablation than those who do not. Although AF ablation promotes beneficial effects on LA structure and function, LA function cannot be normalized even in patients who obtain normal LA volume after successful ablation. Thus, physicians should carefully consider long-term follow-up and residual AF risks, regardless of sinus rhythm restoration by catheter ablation. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Background Non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) has revealed the intimal damages or atheromatous plaques as well as its spontaneous rupture of the aorta. Recent study revealed that plaque debris or different size of cholesterol crystals were detected in the blood above the spontaneous ruptured aortic plaque observed by NOGA and these plaque materials might cause the peripheral organ damages as the embolic source. These various morphological changes may cause the acute aortic events or atheroembolic events on the peripheral organs, such as brain, kidney, peripheral artery and so on. Purpose EAST-NOGA (Evaluation of AtheroSclerotic and rupture events by Non-Obstructive General Angioscopy) is a multi-center prospective observational study to assess the relationship between the findings of NOGA and future cardiovascular events. Methods Five hundred and seventy-seven patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who underwent NOGA study. The major cerebrocardiovascular events including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal cerebral infarction, and acute aortic syndrome were accumulated during the 2-year follow-up after NOGA study. Results The median number of aortic atheromatous plaques was 6 [IQR: 3–12]. A total of 514 patients were followed up (89.1%). The mean follow-up duration was 757±120 days. Major adverse cardiovascular events developed in 23 (4.5%) during 2 years follow-up. Patients with MACE and cerebral infarction, had significantly greater number of aortic atheromatous plaques (11 [5–19] vs. 6 [3–11], p Conclusion The number of atheromatous plaques identified by NOGA has a significant relation to the onset of cerebral infarction, which suggest the atheromatous plaque were vulnerable and ruptured spontaneously, then cause the aortogenic cerebral infarction. The NOGA study would be useful for predicting the futured atheroembolic events. Acknowledgement/Funding None

Gd–DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was performed in two adult patients with acute myocarditis and pericarditis. Gd–DTPA enhancement seemed to identify the exact cardiac region with the higher degree of inflammation.