title: Atrial fibrillation. Left atrial fibrosis--a promising stroke risk factor?
abstract: The pathophysiological properties of the left atrium are not usually considered for stroke risk stratification of patients with atrial fibrillation. The demonstration that left atrial fibrosis detected by delayed-enhancement MRI is associated with history of stroke highlights the need to take into account histopathological data, in addition to clinical data, in stroke risk stratification.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, Italy. gaitaf@libero.it
authors.forename: Fiorenzo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaita
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blandino
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D005355:Fibrosis; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology