Decrease of Right and Left Atrial Sizes After Direct-Current Electrical Cardioversion in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation

also lead to plaque rupture or fissure that forms the substrate for thrombus formation. In addition, the morning increase in plasma catecholamines, by further augmenting the direct effects of the sympathetic nervous system, expands the oxygen demand of the myocardium. All these factors may be the basis for the precipitation of myocardial ischemia in patients with advanced coronary disease.g Better understanding of the endogenous biologic functions and the morning physiologic changes of the clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease may lead to improved control of the precipitating factors and guide toward more effective therapeutic interventions.