Figure 3.
The consequences of obesity-associated fibrosis. Ventricular fibrosis in obese subjects is usually accompanied by left ventricular hypertrophy and may contribute to the development of diastolic heart failure or cause ventricular arrhythmias. Atrial fibrosis may promote atrial fibrillation or other tachyarrhythmias. Obesity may also influence the response to myocardial infarction, modulating inflammatory and reparative cascades and affecting post-infarction remodeling and the fibrotic process.