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Updated: May 24, 2026

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
[Myocardial morphological changes in atrial fibrillation]
Insights
Viral infections like enterovirus and parvovirus B19 may cause chronic myocarditis, leading to fibrosis and amyloidosis in patients with ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pathology
- Virology
Context:
- Investigated hearts from 21 deceased patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).
- Examined atrial appendages from 66 patients with heart diseases and IHD.
- Utilized histological, morphometrical, semiquantitative, and immunohistochemical methods.
Purpose:
- To determine the potential link between viral infections, myocarditis, and atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with IHD.
- To identify specific viral antigens and pathological changes in myocardial tissue associated with AF.
Summary:
- Chronic myocarditis, potentially caused by viral infections (enterovirus, parvovirus B19, adenovirus), was evident in patients with AF.
- Myocardial fibrosis, adiposis, and abundant diffuse amyloidosis were observed in patients with AF.
- Patients with paroxysmal AF showed a higher degree of fibrosis compared to those with stable AF.
Impact:
- This research highlights the role of viral-induced myocarditis and subsequent pathological changes in the development of AF in IHD patients.
- Findings suggest potential targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at preventing or managing AF in this patient population.
Abstract:
Hearts of 21 died patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) have been studied by histlological and morphometrical methods. The atrial auricles derived after operation of 66 patients with heart diseases and IHD have been researched by automatic semiquantitative and immunohistochemical techniques. In general atrial fibrillation (AF) has been evident in chronic myocarditis probably conditioned by viral infections. In quantity of observations enterovirus and parvovirus B19 antigens have been found out in myocardium. In 18% studied myocardium antigen of adenovirus has been established. The result of myocarditis has been fibrosis and adiposis. In myocardium of patients with AF diffuse amyloidosis has been abundant. Amyloid depots have been established in perimuscular stroma, under endocardium, in vascular walls and cardiac hystiocyte. The group of patients with paroxysmal AF has differed from the group of stable AF by fibrosis degree.
Related Concept Videos
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Myocarditis I: Introduction
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
