Markers of myocardial fibrosis in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation

This paper studied the biochemical and functional indices of myocardial fibrosis in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation. In the group of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy with sinus rhythm, the level of transforming growth factor-β1, the ratios of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and its inhibitor and volume fraction of interstitial collagen were significantly higher than in patients with permanent form of atrial fibrillation in this group (P = 0.041, P = 0.045, P = 0,038, respectively), which suggests the presence of processes of fibrosis and collapse in the extracellular matrix, while in patients with atrial fibrillation there is a slight predominance towards the latter.This leads to electrical heterogeneity of the myocardium, the increase in the speed of wave propagation of excitation and activation of ectopy, creates favorable conditions for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in these patients.