Mihail G. Chelu

Durable lesion formation while avoiding esophageal injury during ablation of atrial fibrillation: Lessons learned from late gadolinium MR imaging

Adequate catheter/atrial tissue contact is critical for lesion formation during radiofrequency (RF) ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE‐MRI) is a unique tool for the evaluation of lesion formation and detection of acute esophageal injury.

Cardiomyocyte Inflammasome Signaling in Cardiomyopathies and Atrial Fibrillation: Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Implications

Inflammasomes are high molecular weight protein complexes in the cytosol of immune and other cells that play a critical role in the innate immune system in response to cellular stress. NLRP3 inflammasome, the best-understood inflammasome, is known to mediate the maturation (activation) of caspase-1 from pro-caspase-1, causing the maturation and release of cytokines (e.g., interleukin-1β) and potentially leading to a form of inflammatory programmed cell death called pyroptosis. Previous work has shown that the NLRP3 components are expressed in cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts and recent studies have identified the NLRP3 inflammasome as a key nodal point in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies and atrial fibrillation, which may create an opportunity for the development of new therapeutic agents. Here we review the recent evidence for a role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the cardiomyocytes and discuss its potential role in the evolution of cardiac remodeling and arrhythmias and new opportunities created by these very recent developments.

UTILITY OF AN ESOPHAGEAL SCREENING PROTOCOL IN PREVENTING ATRIO-ESOPHAGEAL FISTULA AFTER ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ABLATION

Background: Atrioesophageal fistula is a well-recognized complication of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) with a reported incidence of 0.015-0.2%. Careful screening with Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Esophagogastroduodenosopy (EGD) may help avoid this potentially lethal

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN CHA2DS2-VASC AND DEGREE OF ATRIAL FIBROSIS

The relationship between cardiac and atrial fibrosis, and atrial fibrillation (AF) is well established. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between CHADS2-VASc score and LA fibrosis. A cross-sectional study of patients with LA fibrosis scores was performed. Participants

IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS OF THE CHA2DS2-VASC SCORE COMPARED WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ON LEFT ATRIAL FIBROSIS PROGRESSION

Atrial fibrillation (AF) results in remodeling/fibrosis of the left atrium (LA). This relationship is modified by multiple factors. The objective of this study is to determine which factors have the strongest association with left atrial (LA) fibrosis using late gadolinium-enhancement cardiovascular