Lone atrial fibrillation: A case report on a rare complication of pregnancy

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias and is a rare phenomenon seen in pregnant patients unless there is an underlying cardiopulmonary abnormality. Lone AF in pregnancy is a diagnosis of exclusion. A thorough workup including history, physical examination, imaging, and laboratory workup should be done diligently to exclude cardiopulmonary diseases (like hypertensive heart disease, congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary embolism, rheumatic heart disease) and non-cardiac diseases (such as hyperthyroidism or electrolyte abnormalities or medications). There are very few case reports and studies published so far on this topic. This case report is on a pregnant patient without any significant past medical history who developed new-onset lone AF without any known cause and was managed with Diltiazem, which resulted in chemical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate to normal sinus rhythm.