Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, P.R. China.
Department of Cardiology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tangshan Gongren Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei 063000, P.R. China.
Int J Mol Med. 2021 Mar;47(3). doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4842. Epub 2021 Jan 15.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common tachyarrhythmias observed in the clinic and is characterized by structural and electrical remodelling. Atrial fibrosis, an emblem of atrial structural remodelling, is a complex multifactorial and patient‑specific process involved in the occurrence and maintenance of AF. Whilst there is already considerable knowledge regarding the association between AF and fibrosis, this process is extremely complex, involving intricate neurohumoral and cellular and molecular interactions, and it is not limited to the atrium. Current technological advances have made the non‑invasive evaluation of fibrosis in the atria and ventricles possible, facilitating the selection of patient‑specific ablation strategies and upstream treatment regimens. An improved understanding of the mechanisms and roles of fibrosis in the context of AF is of great clinical significance for the development of treatment strategies targeting the fibrous region. In the present review, a focus was placed on the atrial fibrosis underlying AF, outlining its role in the occurrence and perpetuation of AF, by reviewing recent evaluations and potential treatment strategies targeting areas of fibrosis, with the aim of providing a novel perspective on the management and prevention of AF.
心房颤动（AF）是临床中观察到的最常见的快速性心律失常之一，其特征为结构和电重构。心房纤维化是心房结构重构的标志，是一种涉及 AF 发生和维持的复杂多因素且具有个体差异性的过程。尽管已经有大量关于 AF 和纤维化之间关联的知识，但该过程非常复杂，涉及复杂的神经激素和细胞及分子相互作用，并且不仅限于心房。目前的技术进步使得能够对心房和心室中的纤维化进行非侵入性评估，从而有助于选择针对特定患者的消融策略和上游治疗方案。在 AF 背景下，对纤维化的机制和作用有更深入的了解，对于开发针对纤维区域的治疗策略具有重要的临床意义。在本综述中，我们重点关注 AF 相关的心房纤维化，通过回顾最近对纤维化区域的评估和潜在治疗策略，阐述其在 AF 发生和持续中的作用，旨在为 AF 的管理和预防提供新的视角。
