title: B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with paroxysmal lone atrial fibrillation.
abstract: To investigate the levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) but without structural heart disease, we measured plasma BNP concentration in 61 consecutive AF patients and in 61 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Plasma BNP concentration in the AF group was significantly higher than in the control group (121+/-32 vs 41+/-12 pg/ml, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that age (r=0.66, P<0.001), left atrial diameter (r=0.59, P<0.01), and a history of AF (r=0.72, P<0.001) were independent predictors of elevated BNP. We concluded that BNP was elevated in patients with paroxysmal lone AF. The clinical significance of BNP elevation in these patients requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College, Shandong Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jingtian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lexin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain