Epicardial Fibrosis Explains Increased Endo-Epicardial Dissociation and Epicardial Breakthroughs in Human Atrial Fibrillation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is accompanied by progressive epicardial fibrosis, dissociation of electrical activity between the epicardial layer and the endocardial bundle network, and transmural conduction (breakthroughs). However, causal relationships between these phenomena have not been demonstrated yet. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that epicardial fibrosis suffices to increase endo-epicardial dissociation (EED) and breakthroughs (BT) during AF.

Methods

We simulated the effect of fibrosis in the epicardial layer on EED and BT in a detailed, high-resolution, three-dimensional model of the human atria with realistic electrophysiology. The model results were compared with simultaneous endo-epicardial mapping in human atria. The model geometry, specifically bui

SUBMITTER: Gharaviri A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7047215 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature