Rheumatic mitral stenosis causes specific structural and electrical atrial remodeling that increases susceptibility to atrial fibrillation.
Atrial remodelling in MS is characterized by LA enlargement, loss of myocardium, and scarring associated with widespread and site-specific conduction abnormalities and no change or an increase in ERP. These abnormalities were associated with a heightened inducibility of AF.
John et al. (Thu,) studied this question.