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Objective: To find out if radiofrequency ablation as method of treatment of cardiac arrhythmia influences platelet aggregation and if intensity of this process depends on the number of radiofrequency ablation episodes for one patient., Material and Methods: We analyzed platelet aggregation before, right after and in 24 hours after radiofrequency ablation in whole blood and platelet rich plasma in 39 cases with cardiac arrhythmias. Adenosine diphosphate and adrenaline were used for aggregation induction. Three groups of patients were formed based on the number of radiofrequency ablation episodes: A-- <10, B--10-20, C-- >20 for one patient., Results: We detected a decrease in spontaneous, adenosine diphosphate and adrenaline induced platelet aggregation in plasma right after radiofrequency ablation, and also the same tendency was noted in adenosine diphosphate induced aggregation in whole blood. In 24 hours after radiofrequency ablation platelet aggregation tended to return to pre-radiofrequency ablation levels. Based on the number of radiofrequency ablation episodes we detected significant changes in spontaneous and adrenaline-induced aggregation in plasma. In group A adrenaline induced aggregation after radiofrequency ablation increased by 0.4%, in group B it decreased by 15.7% and in group C it decreased by 19.4% from pre-radiofrequency ablation level (p<0.05, between groups A and C). Spontaneous platelet aggregation after radiofrequency ablation decreased in group A 41.9%, in group B--20.8% and in group C--18.4% from pre-radiofrequency ablation level (p<0.05 between groups A and C). The greater decrease in adenosine diphosphate induced aggregation in plasma and in whole blood was detected in the group with larger number of radiofrequency ablation episodes., Conclusions: This study found that platelet aggregation decreased in plasma and in whole blood after radiofrequency ablation. And this alteration was significant in groups B and C, when the number of radiofrequency ablation episodes were >10. In 24 hours platelet aggregation increased again to pre- radiofrequency ablation level.

One of the fundamental questions in the management of atrial fibrillation is whether cardioversion should be attempted. Studies have compared rate control with rhythm control strategies. Rhythm control has not been shown to be superior to rate control (with chronic anticoagulation) in reducing morbidity and mortality and may be inferior in some patient subgroups to rate control. Whether these results can be extrapolated to longer time periods than the trial duration (approximately 3.5 years) is not known. The purpose of this article is to discuss some important aspects of atrial fibrillation and to review recent developments in the management of this condition.