Relationship of circulating endothelial progenitor cells to the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful conversion and maintenance of sinus rhythm.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) predicts arrhythmia recurrence after direct current cardioversion (DCCV).


RESULTS
The numbers of circulating CD34+/KDR+ EPCs were determined with flow cytometry in 51 consecutive patients with persistent AF [the mean age: 67 +/- 1.3 years, male (65%)] prior to DCCV and were compared with that of age- and sex-matched controls, and cohorts of patients with coronary artery disease and ischaemic stroke. The AF recurrence rate at 1 year was also determined. The EPCs in patients with persistent AF, patients with coronary artery disease, and patients with ischaemic stroke were significantly lower than that of the age- and sex-matched controls (P < 0.01). One year after successful DCCV, patients with high EPC count (50th to 100th percentile) had a higher recurrence rate of AF when compared with those with low EPC count (less than 50th percentile) (73 vs. 40%, P = 0.02). Cox regression analysis revealed the high EPC count was the only independent predictors for the AF recurrence (HR: 2.29, P = 0.047).


CONCLUSIONS
The number of EPCs is reduced in patients with persistent AF and predicts the recurrence of AF after successful DCCV.
Siu
Chung-Wah
CW
Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
Watson
Timothy
T
Lai
Wing-Hon
WH
Lee
Yee-Ki
YK
Chan
Yap-Hang
YH
Ng
Kwong-Man
KM
Lau
Chu-Pak
CP
Lip
Gregory Y H
GY
Tse
Hung-Fat
HF
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology; D004554:Electric Countershock; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers