Observational analysis reveals the significance of epicardial fat and left atrial volume as biomarkers in AF patients, suggesting potential implications for early detection.
Motivation: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to myocardial fibrosis, but the role of pericardial fat and left atrial volume is unclear. Goal(s): To explore correlations between pericardial fat, left atrial volume, and fibrosis in AF patients and evaluate their potential as early biomarkers. Approach: 3D LGE CMR and CT measured left atrial volume, pericardial fat, and fibrosis. Regression analyses assessed their correlation with AF. Results: Epicardial fat and left atrial volume are significant AF markers, with stronger correlations in AF patients. Persistent AF showed a correlation between epicardial fat and fibrosis. Impact: These findings highlight the role of pericardial fat and left atrial volume in AF progression, improving early detection and management, and emphasizing the use of imaging techniques for better diagnosis and understanding of AF pathophysiology.
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Hua et al. (2025) studied this question.
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