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Review
. 2012 Apr 14;4(6):483.
doi: 10.4022/jafib.483. eCollection 2012 Apr-May.

Epicardial Fat and Atrial Fibrillation: A Review

M Obadah Al Chekakie  1 , Joseph G Akar  2
Affiliations
Review

Epicardial Fat and Atrial Fibrillation: A Review

M Obadah Al Chekakie et al. J Atr Fibrillation. .

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive disorder that increases with age. Obesity is an important risk factor for AF. Pericardial fat is an active adipose tissue in close proximity to the heart and has been shown to be a risk factor for structural as well as coronary artery disease independent of body mass index. Recent studies suggest a role of epicardial fat in atrial remodeling as well as AF burden. This review will summarize the recent evidence linking epicardial fat and AF.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. The PLA view, perpendicular measurements are taken between the RV wall and the visceral pericardium at end systole. Epicardial fat is the hypoechoic area between the myocardium and visceral pericardium (between the yellow arrows).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. The pericardium is usually manually traced from slices starting at the pulmonary artery bifurcation (A), slice by slice (B) and pericardial fat consists of all adipose tissue within the pericardial sac, identified by an image display threshold setting of –190 to –30 Hounsfield Units (C).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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