Should we predict post-operative atrial fibrillation with atrial cardiomyopathy biomarkers?

In the current issue of the International Journal of Cardiology, the article by Rizvi et al. adds significant evidence to the current body of knowledge regarding the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in post cardiac surgery new onset atrial fibrillation (PoAF) [1]. The incidence [2], predictive factors [3] and prognostic value of this PoAF have been thoroughly studied, but no randomized study has managed to obtain a decrease in incidence or an improvement in prognosis. Moreover, it is still unclear whether PoAF should be treated as an epiphenomenon linked to the acute setting and cardiac injury, or as the first symptom of an underlying chronic atrial condition, also known as atrial cardiomyopathy [4].
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research