Role of Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Triggering and Maintaining Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia leading to cardiogenic stroke. Without membranous sructure between epicardial adipose tissue and atrial myocardium, epicardial adipose tissue directly covers the surface of the atrial myocardium. The formation of an epicardial adipose tissue inflammatory microenvironment, fibrosis, infiltration by epicardial adipose tissue, autonomic dysfunction and oxidative stress are important mechanisms that trigger and maintain atrial fibrillation. Those mechanisms are reviewed herein.