Cardiac Fibrosis in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with structural, electrical, and contractile remodeling of the atria. Development and progression of atrial fibrosis is the hallmark of structural remodeling in AF and is considered the substrate for AF perpetuation. In contrast, experimental and clinical data...
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Published in | Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 66; no. 8; pp. 943 - 959 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
25.08.2015
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with structural, electrical, and contractile remodeling of the atria. Development and progression of atrial fibrosis is the hallmark of structural remodeling in AF and is considered the substrate for AF perpetuation. In contrast, experimental and clinical data on the effect of ventricular fibrotic processes in the pathogenesis of AF and its complications are controversial. Ventricular fibrosis seems to contribute to abnormalities in cardiac relaxation and contractility and to the development of heart failure, a common finding in AF. Given that AF and heart failure frequently coexist and that both conditions affect patient prognosis, a better understanding of the mutual effect of fibrosis in AF and heart failure is of particular interest. In this review paper, we provide an overview of the general mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis in AF, differences between fibrotic processes in atria and ventricles, and the clinical and prognostic significance of cardiac fibrosis in AF. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1 |
ISSN: | 1558-3597 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.06.1313 |