2016 EHRA/HRS/APHRS/SOLAECE Expert Consensus on Atrial Cardiomyopathies: Definition, Characterization, and Clinical Implication
June 10, 2016—Ventricular cardiomyopathies have been well classified; however, a definition and detailed analysis of atrial cardiomyopathy are lacking from the literature. The purpose of the present consensus report was to define atrial cardiomyopathy, to review the relevant literature, and to consider the impact of atrial cardiomyopathies on arrhythmia management and stroke.
The purpose of the present consensus report, prepared by a working group with representation from the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), and Sociedad Latinoamericana de Estimulacíon Cardíaca y Electrofisiología (SOLAECE), was to define atrial cardiomyopathy, to review the relevant literature, and to consider the impact of atrial cardiomyopathies on arrhythmia management and stroke. The working group proposes the following working definition of atrial cardiomyopathy: "Any complex of structural, architectural, contractile or electrophysiological changes affecting the atria with the potential to produce clinically-relevant manifestations."