title: Decreased apoptosis following successful ablation of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased apoptotic processes in tissue samples from hearts in atrial fibrillation (AF) have been previously documented in animals. Whether the restoration of sinus rhythm is associated with decreased apoptosis is not known. The aim of the present study was to establish whether successful epicardial ablation of AF leads to changes in the concentration of serum markers of apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with AF were prospectively studied. All underwent epicardial isolation of pulmonary veins. The success of the ablation was assessed clinically and with 3 Holter recordings. Blood samples were drawn before surgery, and at 3 and 6 months after. Serum concentrations of Fas (apoptosis-stimulating fragment) and TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) were measured using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AF was successfully ablated in 15 patients (SR group). In the other 10 patients (AF group), AF recurred during follow-up. Neither group differed with respect to age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction, or preoperative concentrations of measured molecules. While Fas decreased in successfully ablated patients, there was no change in the Fas concentration in the AF group. Similarly, the concentrations of TRAIL decreased in the SR group, but remained unchanged in the AF group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ablation of AF is associated with decreased serum markers for apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiocenter, 3rd Medical School, Charles University and University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. pavel.osmancik@gmail.com
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osmancik
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peroutka
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Budera
authors.forename: Dalibor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stros
authors.forename: Zbynek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Straka
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vondrak
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000097:blood; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C421307:FAIM protein, human