Elevated Circulating Fibrocytes Is a Marker of Left Atrial Fibrosis and Recurrence of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

ABSTRACT: In atrial fibrillation (AF), a more extensively fibrotic left atrium (LA) provides a substrate for arrhythmias and increases risk of relapse following ablation. Fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived circulating mesenchymal progenitors that have been identified in the atrium of patients with AF who have valvular diseases. The present study investigates the associations between circulating fibrocytes and LA fibrosis or the prevalence of recurrence after ablation in patients with persistent AF. We measured the proportion, differentiation, and migration of circulating fibrocytes from patients with persistent AF (n=40), those with paroxysmal AF (n=30), and sinus rhythm controls (n=30). LA low-voltage (fibrosis) area was identified by an electroanatomic mapping system, and patients were followed up

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5907563 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature