The complex mechanisms of atrial fibrillation, including pulmonary vein triggers and fibrotic substrate formation, directly inform daily clinical practice in both invasive and medical treatments.
This review highlights how the pathophysiological mechanisms of atrial fibrillation, such as pulmonary vein triggers and atrial fibrosis, directly inform current clinical interventions and medical therapies.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common arrhythmia that mainly affects older individuals. The mechanism of atrial fibrillation is complex and is related to the pathogenesis of trigger activation and the perpetuation of arrhythmia. The pulmonary veins in the left atrium arei confirm that onfirm the most common triggers due to their distinct anatomical and electrophysiological properties. As a result, their electrical isolation by ablation is the cornerstone of invasive AF treatment. Multiple factors and comorbidities affect the atrial tissue and lead to myocardial stretch. Several neurohormonal and structural changes occur, leading to inflammation and oxidative stress and, consequently, a fibrotic substrate created by myofibroblasts, which encourages AF perpetuation. Several mechanisms are implemented into daily clinical practice in both interventions in and the medical treatment of atrial fibrillation.
Leventopoulos et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Atrial fibrillation. The complex mechanisms of atrial fibrillation, including pulmonary vein triggers and fibrotic substrate formation, directly inform daily clinical practice in both invasive and medical treatments.