Atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke are important major health problems that share common risk factors and frequently coexist. Left atrial (LA) remodeling is an important underlying substrate for AF and stroke. LA dilation and dysfunction form a prothrombotic milieu characterized by blood stasis and endothelial dysfunction. In addition, alterations of the atrial cardiomyocytes, increase of noncollagen deposits in the interstitial space and fibrosis, favor the occurrence of re-entry that predisposes to AF. Eventually, AF further impairs LA function and promotes LA remodeling, closing a self-perpetuating vicious circle. Multimodality imaging provides a comprehensive evaluation of several aspects of LA remodeling and offers several parameters to identify patients at risk of AF and stroke. How multimodality imaging can be integrated in clinical management of patients at risk of AF and stroke is the focus of the present review paper.

中文翻译：

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左心房和左心耳的结构和功能

心房颤动 (AF) 和中风是重要的重大健康问题，具有共同的危险因素并经常共存。左心房 (LA) 重构是 AF 和中风的重要基础。LA 扩张和功能障碍形成以血瘀和内皮功能障碍为特征的血栓形成环境。此外，心房心肌细胞的改变、间质空间中非胶原沉积物的增加和纤维化，有利于易患 AF 的再进入的发生。最终，AF 进一步损害 LA 功能并促进 LA 重塑，从而关闭自我延续的恶性循环。多模态成像对 LA 重塑的多个方面进行了全面评估，并提供了多种参数来识别有 AF 和中风风险的患者。