Bruce Jancin/IMNG Medical Media
Dr. Nassir Marrouche
Every single participant in DECAAF had atrial fibrosis on the posterior left atrial wall; indeed, posterior wall fibrosis accounted for 57% of the total burden of fibrosis. But some patients with, say, a 15-year history of symptomatic AF, had minimal fibrosis, while some middle-aged marathon runners with recent-onset AF had 50% fibrosis indicative of advanced disease.
Why some patients with AF are relatively protected against tissue fibrosis while others aren’t is an important question for further study. Possible factors worthy of investigation include genetics and inflammation, he said.
Dr. Marrouche reported having no relevant financial conflicts.