Characteristic of microcirculation in atrial fibrillation by data of bulbar conjunctival vascular videobiomicroscopy
Urgency. Considering the high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) studying the condition of microcirculation system (MC) in this serious heart rhythm disorder is urgent. Aim. To characterize MC in patients with AF by data of bulbar conjunctival vascular videobiomicroscopy. Materials and methods. 53 patients (mean age 57.1 ± 3.9 years) with AF were examined using the method of bulbar conjunctival vascular videobiomicroscopy: 14 (26.4%) patients had paroxysmal AF; 20 (37.7%) patients had persistent AF; and 19 (35.9%) patients had chronic AF. The videobiomicroscopy device consisted of a slit lamp SHCHL-2B, digital videocamera PANASONIC NV-GS500 (Japan) and a system for image analysis VideoTest-Diunamika 4.0 (St.-Petersburg). Results. Patients with AF compared to the reference group of patients with sinus rhythm showed considerable dynamic disorders at the level of MC system evident as extensive perivascular edema, spastic arterioles, extremely pronounced intravascular red cell aggregation resulting in blocks of microvascular blood flow, and considerable rarefaction of functional capillaries. The observed disorders may underlie circulatory disturbances at the tissue level and adversely influence prognosis in patients with AF.