Targeting inflammatory macrophages may help treat and prevent AFib
Share on Pinterest Scientists are looking to target immune cells to see if it helps treat AFib. Tainar/Getty Images Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heart rhythm and a type of arrhythmia for which there is currently no cure. Researchers compared atrial heart tissue from people with AFib to those without the condition to seek potential new treat ments. I n heart tissue from patients with AFib, researchers found an expansion of immune cells called macrophage s, which contribute to tissue scarring. Further studies are needed to understand what this means for the development and prevention of AFib. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) occurs when the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly, what may lead them to get out of sync with the two lower chambers of the heart — the ventricules. This can reduce cardiac performance and lead to complications , including blood clots, stroke, and heart failure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , A...