[Inflammatory state in patients with atrial fibrillation before and after electrical cardioversion].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the inflammatory state in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and to determine the predictive value in the success of cardioversion and recurrence at 30 days.


METHODS
Prospective observational case-control study.


METHODS
We included consecutively 49 patients with atrial fibrillation previously to scheduled electrical cardioversion in Coronary Care Unit. Clinical and echocardiographic variables were registered and High-sensivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6 and Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha were measured. At 30-days follow-up, rhythm and biomarkers were reassessed. As control groups, we recruited 27 healthy volunteers and 16 patients matched for age, gender and cardiovascular risk factors.


RESULTS
Median age was 66 +/- 10 years and 38% were women. All the markers were higher in patients than in both control groups (p < 0.05). FNT-alpha and Interleukin-6 levels were higher in non-cardiovertors but only an enlarged atria was related to unsuccessful cardioversion (p = 0.036). High-sensivity C-reactive protein values in the higher cuartile tended to be related to recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation (p = 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
There is an increased inflammatory state in patients with atrial fibrillation. FNT-alpha and Interleukin-6 levels were increased in non-cardiovertors, but no biomarker was associated with success of cardioversion or rhythm state at 30-days. However, higher levels of hs-CRP showed a trend to be related to recurrence of atrial fibrillation.
Gómez Martínez
E
E
Unidad Coronaria, Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Dr. Peset, Valencia, España. gomez_eva@gva.es
Borrás Pallé
S
S
Valls Grima
F
F
Miralles Serrano
L L
LL
Moltó Guillamont
L
L
Jarabo Bueno
M M
MM
Gómez Casals
V
V
Valentín Segura
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies