Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia characterized by uncoordinated atrial activation with associated deterioration of atrial mechanical function.1 It is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, becomes more prevalent with age,2 and is associated with an increased long-term risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality.3 AF can occur in the absence of underlying he...

Department of Electrophysiology, Hamburg, Germany Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), particularly longer lasting AF, often requires extensive ablation within the atria and their annexed structures. Immediate procedural success is commonly defined as termination of AF during ablation. While this end point is associated with fewer AF recurrences and maintained sinus rhythm, recurrent ...

Stroke associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) carries a more unfavourable prognosis, and current screening guidance suggests electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring for at least 24 hours. It should be noted, however, that 24-hour monitoring in cryptogenic strokes has relatively low rates of AF detection (1.4–6%). Prolonged ECG monitoring can demonstrate that a significant proportion of ‘cryptogeni...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are common conditions that frequently coexist. Both conditions share risk factors, are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and may worsen the other. The presence of heart failure and symptoms associated with it may influence both the approach to management (i.e., rate versus rhythm control) and the treatment options available for AF...

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with atrial remodeling, including atrial cellular pathology [1,2], left atrial enlargement [3], and low voltage on electroanatomic mapping (EAM)[4]. Recent studies have identified late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in AF subjects pre-PVI as novel evidence of LA remodeling [5]. One study compared voltage by EAM obtained prior to a pulmonary vein i...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) as a severe arrhythmia is now spreading worldwide at overwhelmingly high rates, particularly in elderly patients. Despite new insights, the mechanisms underlying AF are not conclusively determined yet. Taking into account the ischemic origin of arrhythmia induction (according to the so-called conflictogenic atrial fibrillation, declared recently) restoration of regional...

Atrial fibrosis is common in atrial fibrillation (AF). Experimental studies have provided convincing evidence that fibrotic transformation of atrial myocardium results in deterioration of atrial conduction, increasing anisotropy of impulse propagation and building of boundaries that promote re-entry in the atrial walls that maybe directly relevant for the mechanisms responsible for maintaining ...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are 2 burdensome chronic cardiac diseases with an increasing prevalence as the average life expectancy increases. HF can lead to atrial remodeling, which increases the risk of developing AF. Conversely, AF can lead to HF because of the consequences of the arrhythmia itself and impairment in diastolic filling. It has been estimated that ≤40% of pat...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive disorder that increases with age. Obesity is an important risk factor for AF. Pericardial fat is an active adipose tissue in close proximity to the heart and has been shown to be a risk factor for structural as well as coronary artery disease independent of body mass index. Recent studies suggest a role of epicardial fat in atrial remodeling as well as ...

Introduction Currently, atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most frequent arrhythmias and it holds the second place after extrasystole. Thus, AF and atrial flutter constitute nearly 40% of all arrhythmias (1). The incidence of AF increases with age, and in 60-year-old patients this constitutes 2 to 4%. Generally, AF worsens the clinical condition of patients: compensation mechanisms fail, to...