Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here):
Background: Epicardial adipose tissue is associated with prevalent and incident atrial fibrillation (AF). The mechanism for this association has been at least partially attributed to fatty atrial infiltration, or lipomatous metaplasia (LM), of the left atrium (LA).
Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantitate the extent of LA LM using contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and to examine its association with intracardiac electrogram characteristics using high density electroanatomic mapping in patients referred for AF ablation.
Methods: The retrospective cohort included consecutive patients who underwent CECT and LA high-density mapping (Pentaray, Biosense Webster) prior to AF ablation between January 2021- 2023. Univariable associations were examined using nonparametric tests. The association of bipolar voltage amplitude and mid-LA myocardial CECT image intensity (< 0 Hounsfield units indicative of LM, ADAS 3D software), at each electroanatomic map point, was examined using a mixed effects linear regression model clustered by patient.
Results: The cohort consisted of 34 patients with mean age 66.4 ± 9.5 years, BMI of 31.7 ± 9.5 kg/m2, left atrial volume index (LAVI) 38.0 ± 8.1 mL, and EF 51 ±13%. Of all patients, 41% were female, 65% had persistent AF, 74% had hypertension, 41% had coronary disease, 12% had diabetes, 33% had sleep apnea, and 15% had prior stroke or TIA. LM was detected among 53% of patients (95% CI 36-69%), and was unassociated with age, BMI, LAVI, AF type, sex, diabetes, sleep apnea, or hypertension. Bipolar voltage was associated with CECT attenuation (-0.2 mV/ Hounsfield unit, P<0.001), but was unassociated with LM.
Conclusions: LA LM was prevalent in a small cohort of patients undergoing AF ablation and was unassociated with traditional risk factors and voltage mapping. Additional studies are warranted to refine the understanding of LM as an atrial myopathy.