Association of Atrial Fibrosis Quantified Using LGE‐MRI with Atrial Appendage Thrombus and Spontaneous Contrast on Transesophageal Echocardiography in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. (11th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akoum, Nazem; Fernandez, Genaro; Wilson, Brent; Mcgann, Christopher; Kholmovski, Eugene; Marrouche, Nassir
• Is Part Of: Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology. Volume 24:Number 10(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1104
• Page End: 1109
• Publication Date: 2013-07-11
• Subjects: Blood vessels -- Physiology -- Periodicals; Electrophysiology -- Periodicals; Heart -- Physiology -- Periodicals; 612.1
• DOI: 10.1111/jce.12199
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-3873

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Atrial Fibrosis and Appendage Thrombus</title> <sec id="jce12199-sec-0010" sec-type="section"> <title>Introduction</title> <p>Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is used to evaluate for left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi prior to restoration of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation (AF). We examined the relationship of atrial fibrosis quantified using late gadolinium enhancement MRI (LGE‐MRI) with TEE findings.</p> </sec> <sec id="jce12199-sec-0020" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods and Results</title> <p>We included 178 patients with AF, undergoing TEE and LGE‐MRI prior to ablation or cardioversion. LGE‐MRI and subsequent image processing was used to quantify atrial fibrosis based on signal intensity analysis. The mean CHADS<sub>2</sub> score was 1.24 ± 1.08 and CHA<sub>2</sub>DS<sub>2</sub>‐VASc was 2.08 ± 1.33. The LAA was classified as normal, spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC) present or thrombus present. LAA thrombus was found in 12 patients (6.7%) while SEC was identified in 19 patients (10.7%). Patients with thrombus had higher atrial fibrosis compared to patients without thrombus (26.9 ± 17.4% vs 16.7 ± 10.5%; P < 0.01). Atrial fibrosis was also higher in patients with SEC (23.3 ± 13.7%) compared to those without SEC (16.7 ± 10.8%; P = 0.01). Patients with high atrial fibrosis (>20%) were more likely to have a LAA thrombus (odds ratio 4.6; P = 0.02) and SEC (odds ratio 2.6; P = 0.06). Multivariate logistic regression showed high fibrosis (odds ratio 3.6; P < 0.01) and CHADS2 ≥2 (odds ratio 3.5; P < 0.01) were significant predictors of TEE abnormalities (LAA thrombus or SEC). The area under the curve for the model including high fibrosis, AF type and CHADS2 ≥2 or CHA<sub>2</sub>DS<sub>2</sub>‐VASc ≥2 was 0.73 compared to 0.63 and 0.65 for CHADS2 and CHA<sub>2</sub>DS<sub>2</sub>‐VASc alone.</p> </sec> <sec id="jce12199-sec-0030" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Atrial fibrosis is independently associated with appendage thrombus and spontaneous contrast. It provides additional risk stratification not captured by clinical parameters.</p> </sec> </abstract>