title: Epicardial adipose tissue: the accomplice implicated in the genesis and maintenance of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this review was to delineate our current knowledge of the close relationship between the abundance of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and the risk of all major cardiovascular disease, especially atrial fibrillation (AF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The data analyzed in this review were mainly from articles reported in PubMed published from 1972 to 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Original articles and critical reviews relevant to EAT and AF were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EAT, a particular form of metabolically active visceral fat deposited around the heart, is being regarded as an important independent predictor of cardio-metabolic diseases. EAT is composed of smaller adipocytes than other visceral fat depots and functioned like brown adipose tissue (BAT) to protect adjacent tissues. Improving the understanding of EAT in AF genesis and maintenance may contribute to prevent AF and reduce the complications associated with AF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that EAT associates with AF severity and the recurrence of AF after catheter ablation even after adjustment for AF risk factors, but the precise mechanisms are not fully elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China.
authors.forename: Mingcheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China.
authors.forename: Yangxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China. Email: dr_wjf@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jingfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans