Imaging of the Atria in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Using Cardiac MRI: Exploring Novel Markers, Fibrosis Assessment, and Guidance for Ablation Strategies

This thesis primarily focuses on investigating atrial remodeling using cardiovascular MRI (CMR) in patients scheduled for an atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedure. Atrial remodeling refers to changes in atrial function, shape, and structure, which contribute to the development and perpetuation of AF. Our studies examined various imaging markers of atrial remodeling, and their association with the success of the ablation procedure. One of the most promising novel CMR-based markers is the non-invasive visualization and quantification of atrial fibrosis, as fibrotic tissue transformation is considered to be directly related to the mechanisms governing the development of AF. We performed a critical evaluation of this CMR-based atrial fibrosis detection. Furthermore, we explored the clinical feasibility of interventional CMR (iCMR) for performing flutter ablation procedures.