title: Relationship between brain natriuretic peptide and recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful electrical cardioversion: a meta-analysis.
abstract: A meta-analysis was undertaken to examine the relationship between plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after successful electrical cardioversion. The literature search was conducted using key inclusion criteria for papers published  between January 1980 and March 2011 listed in the PubMed(®)/MEDLINE(®)
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analysed using RevMan version 5.1 software; a manual search was also performed. Ten studies were finally included. Results showed that baseline BNP levels were higher in patients  with AF recurrence than in those without recurrence, the standardized mean difference in plasma BNP level being -1.35 (95% confidence interval -2.17, -0.53, Z-score for overall effect 3.22). These results suggest that higher plasma BNP levels are associated with a  greater risk of AF recurrence. BNP levels may predict AF recurrence after successful electrical cardioversion.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Gongli Hospital, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Tang
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Yang
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Qiu
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain