Pericardial Fat Is Independently Associated With Human Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Pericardial fat volume is highly associated with paroxysmal and persistent AF independent of traditional risk factors including left atrial enlargement. Whether pericardial fat plays a role in the pathogenesis of AF requires future investigation.

Clinical and histological predictive risk factors of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing open-heart surgery

“…Al Chekakie et al (24) and Batal et al (25), referring to the association between pericardial fat volume and AF, suggested that the local effects of proinflammatory cytokines released from the pericardial adipose tissue may be a potential mechanism for the development of AF.…”

Role of Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Atrial Fibrillation

“…5 Another study using a relatively large sample from the Framingham Heart Study (n=3,217) has also shown that pericardial fat volume was associated with AF even after adjustment for risk factors, including body mass index. 6 In addition, Wong et al recently reported that EAT volume assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was significantly associated with AF chronicity and symptom burden, as well as the presence itself, and is predictive of long-term AF recurrence after ablation.…”

Inflammation of left atrial epicardial adipose tissue is associated with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

“…Ectopic fat deposits in muscle, liver, and the pancreas correlate with insulin resistance and CAD [4]. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is ectopic visceral fat that surrounds the heart, and increased EAT volumes correlate with the prevalence of AF, as well as with the recurrence of AF after ablation therapy [6,7]. Increased fat thickness at the posterior left atrium (LA) may be particularly related to the AF burden, independent of age, BMI, and the LA area [8,9].…”