title: Relation of elevated C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels to left atrial size and duration of episodes in patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated inflammation to be a risk factor in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). In this prospective study of 90 patients with persistent and permanent AF and 46 controls, we found increased C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 levels in patients with AF compared with controls (p <0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed CRP to be an independent predictor of AF (p = 0.01). Left atrial diameter was positively related to CRP and interleukin-6 (p <0.001, R = 0.37; p <0.001, R = 0.46, respectively) and negatively related to left ventricular function. Interleukin-6 levels were positively related to AF duration before cardioversion (p = 0.02). Elevation of CRP and interleukin-6 suggest a role of inflammation in AF, and the relation of CRP and interleukin-6 to left atrial size and AF duration before cardioversion indicates that inflammation may participate in the process of atrial remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, Nikea General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavroula N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Psychari
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Apostolou
authors.forename: Loukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sinos
authors.forename: Eftihia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hamodraka
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liakos
authors.forename: Dimitrios Th
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kremastinos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000276:immunology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000276:immunology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein