Abstract: Objective To study the relation between autonomic nerve system (ANS) and recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation (RA). Methods Eighty-two paroxysmal AF patients who underwent circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) under CARTO system guidance in Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, from February 2011 to August 2012, were included in this study.The patients were followed up for 6 months 3 days before operation and 3 days, 3, 6 and 12 months after operation, and received 12-lead ambulatory Holter monitoring. The patients were divided into early AF recurrence group (n=34), non- AF recurrence group (n=48) according to their condition 3 days after operation, and into late AF recurrence group (n=22) and non-late AF recurrence group (n=60) according to the findings during the 3 months follow-up after operation. The mean heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in early and late AF recurrence groups, such as SDNN, SDANN, rMSSD, PNN50, LF, HF, and LF/HF, were recorded and analyzed. Results The mean HR, HRV and vagus nerve tone were significantly lower whereas the LF/HF was significantly higher in non- AF recurrence group than in AF recurrence group. Conclusion Persistent low vagus nerve tone can effectively prevent late AF recurrence.