title: Persistent atrial fibrillation is not associated with thrombomodulin level increase in efficiently anticoagulated patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and leads to a five-fold increased risk of stroke compared to persons with sinus rhythm. A soluble form of thrombomodulin (sTM) is a recognized marker of endothelial dysfunction and may contribute to the hypercoagulable state in AF. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma concentration of sTM in persistent AF patients before and after sinus rhythm recovery following direct current cardioversion (CV).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 45 effectively anticoagulated consecutive patients, with persistent non-valvular AF, and normal left ventricular function, CV was performed. Blood samples for sTM assessment were collected twice: 24 hours before and 24 hours after CV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 43 patients sinus rhythm was obtained. The mean plasma sTM level was significantly lower in AF patients compared to the control group with sinus rhythm and without anticoagulation (38.5 ±9.9 ng/ml vs. 44.1 ±9.1 ng/ml, p = 0.04). Plasma sTM levels did not change 24 hours after successful CV (36.7 ±9.5 ng/ml vs. 38.5 ±9.9 ng/ml, p = 0.16).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma sTM concentration was lower in patients with persistent AF and normal left ventricle systolic function than in patients with sinus rhythm, presumably due to chronic oral anticoagulant therapy in the AF group. CV has no impact on sTM plasma level evaluated 24 hours after sinus rhythm restoration.
authors.affiliation: 1  Clinical Department of Cardiology, Swietokrzyskie Centre of Cardiology, Kielce, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wożakowska-Kapłon
authors.forename: Radoslaw
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartkowiak
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grabowska
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Janiszewska