Plasma YKL-40 is elevated in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation.
OBJECTIVE
To study plasma YKL-40 in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation and to assess the predictive role of plasma YKL-40 and its changes after restoration of sinus rhythm (SR).


METHODS
Forty-six patients (mean age 55 years, range 31-81) with paroxysmal/persistent AF were treated with RF catheter ablation; Holter monitoring for 14 days was performed before ablation and after 3 months. Recurrent symptomatic AF or atrial tachycardia >10 min was considered failure, and the patients were offered a second ablation session. YKL-40 was determined in plasma samples taken prior to ablation and at follow-up visits up to 12 months after ablation.


RESULTS
After a maximum of two ablations, 19 patients (41%) had SR without recurrence of AF after 12 months. The patients with no recurrence of AF had significantly lower baseline plasma levels of YKL-40 prior to ablation compared to patients with recurrence of AF (31 vs. 62 microg/l, P = 0.029). Plasma YKL-40 was not an independent predictor of recurrence of AF after ablation. No significant changes in plasma YKL-40 levels were seen from baseline to follow-up at 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF treated with catheter ablation, high plasma YKL-40 before ablation is associated with recurrence of AF.
Henningsen
Kristoffer Mads
KM
Department of Cardiology, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory 2014, The Heart Centre, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Kristofferh@webspeed.dk
Nilsson
Brian
B
Johansen
Julia S
JS
Chen
Xu
X
Pehrson
Steen
S
Svendsen
Jesper Hastrup
JH
D054392:Adipokines; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D015415:Biomarkers; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins