title: Relationships of CRP and P wave dispersion with atrial fibrillation in hypertensive subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although inflammation has been shown to be implicated in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF), little is known about its involvement in the accompanying atrial electrical remodeling expressed by P wave dispersion (P(disp)).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty hypertensive subjects with documented paroxysmal AF (AF group) and 50 matched for body mass index, sex and office systolic blood pressure (BP) subjects with no history of AF (SR group) were subjected to electrocardiogram (ECG) and P(disp) assessment, hs-CRP determination, a complete echocardiographic study and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AF as compared to the SR subjects were older by 14 years (P < 0.0001) and they exhibited lower office and 24-h diastolic BP (7 mm Hg, P < 0.0001 and by 8 mm Hg, P < 0.0001, respectively) and higher office and 24-h pulse pressure (by 4 mm Hg, P = 0.03 and 6 mm Hg, P = 0.001, respectively) mean values. A higher mean of left atrial (LA) diameter index (by 1.9 mm/m(2), P < 0.0001) and left ventricular mass index (by 16 g/m(2), P < 0.0001) were observed in the AF vs. SR group. P(disp) mean and hs-CRP median values were higher in the AF group (by 22 ms, P < 0.0005 and by 4.63 mg/l, P < 0.0005, respectively). Standard multiple and multiple logistic regression analysis identified log(10)(hs-CRP) as independent determinant of P(disp) and log(10)(CRP) and P(disp) as independent determinants of AF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In hypertensive subjects hs-CRP and P(disp) are interrelated and associated with AF, suggesting an active implication of inflammation in the atrial electrophysiological remodeling predisposing to AF.
authors: First Cardiology Clinic, University of Athens, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Costas
authors: C
authors: Tsioufis
authors: Dimitris
authors: D
authors: Syrseloudis
authors: Awalia
authors: A
authors: Hatziyianni
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Tzamou
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Andrikou
authors: Panaglotis
authors: P
authors: Tolis
authors: Kostas
authors: K
authors: Toutouzas
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Michaelidis
authors: Christodoulos
authors: C
authors: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein