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Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
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Left atrium and the imaging of atrial fibrosis: catch it if you can!

Timothy C Tan1, IotaIlias D Koutsogeorgis, Julia Grapsa

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

European Journal of Clinical Investigation
|July 29, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, is linked to left atrial remodeling and fibrosis. Imaging techniques show promise in detecting this fibrosis, aiding risk assessment for patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation is a prevalent arrhythmia, particularly in the elderly, imposing a significant global burden.
  • Left atrial remodeling and fibrosis are key risk factors for developing persistent atrial fibrillation.
  • Pathological changes in the left atrial wall can lead to reduced compliance and elastance, increasing fibrillation risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and present available imaging modalities for detecting left atrial fibrosis.
  • To evaluate the role of current imaging tools in identifying atrial fibrosis.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of studies utilizing imaging techniques to assess left atrial fibrosis.
  • Analysis of various imaging modalities employed in the detection of atrial fibrosis.

Main Results:

  • Imaging tools can potentially detect atrial fibrosis.
  • These modalities offer valuable information for patient management.

Conclusions:

  • Current imaging techniques may aid in identifying left atrial fibrosis.
  • Detection of atrial fibrosis through imaging can enhance risk stratification and management strategies for atrial fibrillation patients.

Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationechocardiographyfibrosisleft atriummagnetic resonance imagingremodelling

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