title: Left atrium and the imaging of atrial fibrosis: catch it if you can!
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Timothy C
authors: TC
authors: Tan
authors: IotaIlias D
authors: ID
authors: Koutsogeorgis
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Grapsa
authors: Costas
authors: C
authors: Papadopoulos
authors: Apostolos
authors: A
authors: Katsivas
authors: Petros
authors: P
authors: Nihoyannopoulos
mesh_terms: D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000473:pathology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000473:pathology*; D064752:Atrial Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D057791:Cardiac Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; echocardiography; fibrosis; left atrium; magnetic resonance imaging; remodelling