JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY, cilt.69, ss.16-23, 2017 (SCI-Expanded)
Background: Left atrial (LA) fibrosis is known as the hallmark for arrhythmogenic substrate in atrial fibrillation (AF). Quantification of LA fibrosis by using delayed-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) in AF patients is a pioneering noninvasive technique. Vitamin D (vitD) negatively regulates the renin-angiotensin system, binds to vitD receptors on cardiac myocytes, and has antioxidant properties that may ameliorate the inflammation and proarrhythmic substrate formation. However, its role in LA fibrosis is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of serum 25(OH)D level with the extent of LA fibrosis by using DE-MRI and also predictors for AF recurrence after cryoablation was assessed in patients with paroxysmal AF.