THE LATEST

In a groundbreaking development, researchers at Queen Mary University of London have unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI) tool capable of generating synthetic yet medically accurate models of fibrotic heart tissue. This innovation promises to enhance treatment planning for atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart rhythm disorder affecting approximately 1.4 million individuals in the UK.

AF is characterized by irregular heartbeats caused by scarring (fibrosis) in the heart tissue, which disrupts electrical signals. Traditionally, the extent and pattern of this scarring are evaluated using specialized MRI scans known as Late Gadolinium Enhancement MRI (LGE-MRI). However, the limited availability of high-quality imaging data has presented challenges in developing predictive models for treatment outcomes.

The research team trained their AI model using 100 real LGE-MRI scans from AF patients to address this issue. The AI then generated 100 synthetic fibrosis patterns that closely mimic heart scarring. These virtual models were incorporated into 3D heart simulations to assess the effectiveness of various ablation strategies—a standard treatment that involves creating small scars to block erratic electrical signals.

The results were promising. Predictions based on the AI-generated models proved nearly as reliable as those using actual patient data. This approach preserves patient privacy and allows for exploring a wider range of cardiac scenarios, facilitating more personalized treatment plans.

Dr. Alexander Zolotarev, the study's first author, emphasized AI's supportive role in clinical settings: "This isn't about replacing doctors' judgment. It's about providing clinicians with a sophisticated simulator to test different treatment approaches on a digital model of each patient's unique heart structure before conducting the procedure." 

This initiative is part of Dr. Caroline Roney's UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project, which aims to develop personalized 'digital twin' heart models for AF patients. Dr. Roney highlighted the significance of this research: "We're very excited about this work as it addresses the challenge of limited clinical data for cardiac digital twin models. Our key development enables large-scale in-silico trials and patient-specific modeling to create more personalized treatments for atrial fibrillation patients."

Given that ablation procedures fail in about half of AF cases, this technology has the potential to significantly reduce repeat interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes and optimizing healthcare resources.