title: [Impact of pre-procedural plasma brain natriuretic peptide level on atrial fibrillation recurrence post radiofrequency catheter ablation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are elevated in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between the pre-procedural BNP level and the incidence of recurrence AF after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma BNP level was measured before CPVA in 69 consecutive symptomatic paroxysmal AF (PAF) patients without heart failure symptom. Atrial thrombus was detected by transesophageal echocardiography in 15 patients and CPVA was not performed in these patients. CPVA was successful in the remaining 54 patients and followed up for 3 months. All patients were asked to keep a log of the duration and frequency of their symptoms and underwent 24 h ECG monitoring at least once per month after the ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of follow up, 39 patients were free of AF recurrence (successful group) and 15 patients experienced AF recurrence (failure group). BNP concentration was below the heart failure range (< 500 ng/L) in 69.6% patients, but exceeded the normal range (0 - 144 ng/L) in 59.4% patients. Median baseline BNP level was significantly higher in failure group than in successful group (371.6 ng/L vs. 97.4 ng/L, P = 0.001). Left atrial (LA) dimension was also larger in failure group than in successful group [(53.3 ± 15.1) mm vs. (45.2 ± 11.2) mm, P = 0.036]. Moreover, BNP level was positively correlated with LA dimension (r = 0.574, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pre-procedural BNP level and LA dimension are predictive of successful CPVA for PAF patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan-yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Xin-yong
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Chang-sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: De-yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain