Preferential regional distribution of atrial fibrosis in posterior wall around left inferior pulmonary vein as identified by late gadolinium enhancement cardíac magnetic resonance in patients with atrial fibrillation

Aims: Left atrial (LA) fibrosis can be identified by late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there is limited information about anatomical fibrosis distribution in the left atrium. The aim is to determine whether there is a...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Benito, Eva, Cabanelas, Nuno, Nuñez-Garcia, Marta, Alarcón, Francisco, Figueras i Ventura, Rosa M., Soto Iglesias, David, Guasch i Casany, Eduard, Prat González, Susanna, Perea Palazón, Rosario Jesús, Borràs, Roger, Butakoff, Constantine, Camara, Oscar, Bisbal, Felipe, Arbelo, Elena, Tolosana, José M. (José María), Brugada Terradellas, Josep, 1958-, Berruezo Sánchez, Antonio, Mont Girbau, Lluís
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2018
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/132064
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/132064
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Ressonància magnètica
Malalties del cor
Fibril·lació auricular
Magnetic resonance
Heart diseases
Atrial fibrillation
Description
Summary:Aims: Left atrial (LA) fibrosis can be identified by late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there is limited information about anatomical fibrosis distribution in the left atrium. The aim is to determine whether there is a preferential spatial distribution of fibrosis in the left atrium in patients with AF. Methods and results: A 3-Tesla LGE-CMR was performed in 113 consecutive patients referred for AF ablation. Images were post-processed and analysed using ADAS-AF software (Galgo Medical), which allows fibrosis identification in 3D colour-coded shells. A regional semiautomatic LA parcellation software was used to divide the atrial wall into 12 segments: 1-4, posterior wall; 5-6, floor; 7, septal wall; 8-11, anterior wall; 12, lateral wall. The presence and amount of fibrosis in each segment was obtained for analysis. After exclusions for artefacts and insufficient image quality, 76 LGE-MRI images (68%) were suitable for fibrosis analysis. Segments 3 and 5, closest to the left inferior pulmonary vein, had significantly higher fibrosis (40.42% ± 23.96 and 25.82% ± 21.24, respectively; P < 0.001), compared with other segments. Segments 8 and 10 in the anterior wall contained the lowest fibrosis (2.54% ± 5.78 and 3.82% ± 11.59, respectively; P < 0.001). Age >60 years was significantly associated with increased LA fibrosis [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19-8.39, P = 0.04] and persistent AF approached significance (95% CI -0.19% to 7.83%, P = 0.08). Conclusion: In patients with AF, the fibrotic area is preferentially located at the posterior wall and floor around the antrum of the left inferior pulmonary vein. Age >60 years was associated with increased fibrosis.

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