Lower values of PALS are associated with an increased risk of AF recurrence after RFA .
PALS provides prognostic value in clinical practice
The usefulness of peak atrial longitudinal strain ( PALS ) in identifying patients at high risk of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) recurrence after radiofrequency ablation ( RFA )  has been investigated in several small AF population s. The aim of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to investigate whether PALS predicts recurrence of AF after RFA treatment .
Left atrial strain as predictor of successful outcomes in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a two-dimensional myocardial imaging study
Background The objective of this study was to investigate atrial myocardial properties through two-dimensional ( 2D ) myocardial imaging in patients with atrial fibrillation ( AF ) and its predictive role for recurrence after catheter ablation . Methods and results Echocardiographic examinations were performed in 40 patients with paroxysmal AF before catheter ablation and 40 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects . Using a software package , bidimensional acquisitions were analyzed to measure longitudinal strain and strain rate for the left atrium ( LA ) . Systolic strain and strain rate in all eight segments , and its average values , were significantly reduced in AF patients compared to controls . During 9 months of follow-up after catheter ablation for AF , 11 of 40 AF patients had AF recurrence . AF recurrence was associated with gender , LA volume index , and average values of systolic strain and strain rate . By multivariate analysis , only average strain was an independent predictor of AF recurrence ( OR = 0.88 , 95 % CI 0.79 - 0.98 , p = 0.018 ) . Conclusions Lower systolic strain of LA was strongly associated with recurrence after catheter ablation . Thus , diverse adjunctive ablation strategies should be considered to reduce recurrence in patients with lower systolic strain
Lower values of PALS are associated with an increased risk of AF recurrence after RFA .
PALS provides prognostic value in clinical practice
The usefulness of peak atrial longitudinal strain ( PALS ) in identifying patients at high risk of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) recurrence after radiofrequency ablation ( RFA )  has been investigated in several small AF population s. The aim of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to investigate whether PALS predicts recurrence of AF after RFA treatment .