ObjectiveTo compare the value of speckle tracking technique and right heart contrast-enhanced echocardiography in predicting recurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation（PAF）.MethodsA total of 33 patients with PAF confirmed by electrocardiogram were prospectively collected.2D echocardiography and right heart contrast-enhanced echocardiography were performed at sinus rhythm.Left and right atrial diameters

right ventricular fractional area change（FAC）after contrast enhancement

tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion（TAPSE）

left and right ventricular global longitudinal strain（LVGLS

RVGLS）were recorded.After 6 months

the patients were divided into two groups according to whether PAF recurred or not.The differences of the above parameters between two groups were compared.Receiver operating characteristic（ROC）curve was used to analyze the value of each parameter in predicting PAF recurrent rate.ResultsAfter 6 months

2 patients were removed for persistent atrial fibrillation

there were 18 cases in the recurrent group and 13 cases in the nonrecurrent group.In the recurrent group

the value of RVGLS was lower compared with the original value（P<0.05）.And the original value of RVGLS in the recurrent group was lower than that in the non-recurrent group（P<0.05）.There was no significant difference in the value of TAPSE

LVGLS and FAC with right heart contrast-enhanced echocardiography between recurrent group and non-recurrent group.ROC curve analysis showed that when the cut-off value of RVGLS was 17.98%

the area under the ROC curve was 0.847

the sensitivity and specificity were 71.1%and 72.9%

respectively.While TAPSE

LVGLS and FAC had no predictive value（area under the ROC curve were 0.297

0.197

0.453

P=0.952

0.401

0.122

respectively）.ConclusionSpeckle tracking technique can predict the recurrence of PAF

while right heart contrast-enhanced echocardiography has limited predictive value.