title: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is predictive of successful cardioversion for atrial fibrillation and maintenance of sinus rhythm after conversion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most effective treatment for the restoration of sinus rhythm (SR). Recently, an elevated level of hs-CRP has been shown to be associated with AF burden, suggesting that inflammation increases the propensity for persistence of AF. We examined whether the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was predictive of the outcome of cardioversion for AF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and six patients with a history of symptomatic AF lasting > or =1 day (age 63+/-14 years, mean+/-S.D.) underwent cardioversion. Echocardiography and hs-CRP assay were performed immediately prior to cardioversion. SR was restored in 84 patients (79%). By using selected cutoff values, multiple discriminant analysis revealed significant associations between successful cardioversion and a shorter duration of AF (AF duration< or =36 days, odds ratio (OR), 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.97-0.99), smaller left atrial diameter (left atrial diameter< or =40 mm, OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.94), better-preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction> or =60%, OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.99), and lower hs-CRP level (hs-CRP< or =0.12 mg/dL, OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21-0.51). During a follow-up period of 140+/-144 days, AF recurred in 64 patients (76%). By using a cutoff value of hs-CRP> or =0.06 mg/dL, Cox proportional-hazards regression model found that only hs-CRP level was an independent predictor of AF recurrence (OR 5.30, 95% CI 2.46-11.5) after adjustment for coexisting cardiovascular risks. When patients were divided by the hs-CRP level of 0.06 mg/dL, percentage of maintenance of SR below and above the cutoff was 53% and 4%, respectively (log-rank test, p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hs-CRP level determined prior to cardioversion represents an independent predictor of both successful cardioversion for AF and the maintenance of SR after conversion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tomoharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arakawa
authors.forename: Tatsushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Itsuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hishida
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein