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Left atrium and the imaging of atrial fibrosis: catch it if you can!
Author(s) -
Tan Timothy C.,
Koutsogeorgis ΙIlias D.,
Grapsa Julia,
Papadopoulos Costas,
Katsivas Apostolos,
Nihoyannopoulos Petros
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/eci.12305
Subject(s) - atrial fibrillation , medicine , cardiology , fibrosis , pathological , left atrium , risk stratification
Atrial fibrillation is a sustained arrhythmia commonly encountered in clinical practice. It has a high prevalence among the elderly and contributes significantly to the global socio‐economic burden. Among many risk factors predisposing to atrial fibrillation is left atrial remodelling and wall fibrosis. Frequently, pathological left atrial wall remodelling and fibrosis results in low atrial compliance and elastance significantly increase the risk of developing permanent atrial fibrillation. We reviewed all literature which employs imaging and left atrial fibrosis and we present all available imaging modalities. Current imaging tools may play a role in the detection of atrial fibrosis, hence providing valuable information for risk stratification and management of patients with atrial fibrillation.