The impact of acute atrial fibrillation on the prothrombotic state in patients with essential hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether acute atrial fibrillation (AF) creates a prothrombotic state in hypertensive patients, and to assess the evolution in research indices after cardioversion.


METHODS
Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWf), soluble P-selectin and fibrin D-dimers were measured in hypertensive patients with acute AF pre-cardioversion and at 1, 7, 14, and 30days post-cardioversion. The results were compared with hypertensive controls and healthy controls.


RESULTS
Pre-cardioversion plasma vWf levels in acute AF patients were similar to those of controls; however, post-cardioversion, the vWf levels increased significantly and only returned to baseline levels 14days later. Compared with controls, acute AF patients had higher levels of fibrin D-dimers, which lasted at least 14days after cardioversion.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that hypertensive patients with acute AF have an abnormal prothrombotic state, which persists for up to 14days after cardioversion.
Hou
Jianping
J
Department of Cardiology, Fuzhou General Hospital, Fuzhou, PR China.
Liang
Yonggang
Y
Gai
Xiaobo
X
Zhang
Hueimin
H
Yang
Xiangyue
X
Lan
Xiaopeng
X
Zheng
Weixing
W
Huang
Mingfang
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*