Genetic diversity of the KCNE1 gene and susceptibility to postoperative atrial fibrillation.
BACKGROUND
The human KCNE1 protein forms the β-subunit of the IKs potassium channel and is important in the regulation of the atrial action potential duration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the nonsynonymous 112G>A mutation of the KCNE1 gene and postcardiac surgery atrial fibrillation (AF).


RESULTS
A cohort of patients scheduled for cardiac surgery was prospectively recruited. The genotype of 112G>A polymorphism was determined using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment analysis and confirmed with direct sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction product. In total, 509 patients were recruited in the study, of whom 203 (39.9%) had at least 1 qualifying episode of postoperative AF. An increased frequency of the G allele was observed in the postoperative AF group compared with the group without postoperative AF (0.628 vs 0.552, respectively, P = .016). The individual's relative risk of postoperative AF increased as the number of G alleles increased from 1.36 (95% CI 0.89-2.08) for G allele heterozygotes to 1.62 (95% CI 1.08-2.43) for G allele homozygotes (P = .04 for trend). The multivariate analysis revealed the abnormal ejection fraction (odds ratio [OR] 1.585, 95% CI 1.076-2.331, P = .020), age (OR 1.043, 95% CI 1.022-1.064, P < .001), type of surgery (aortic valve replacement) (OR 1.869, 95% CI 1.094-3.194, P = .022), and the 112G>A genotype (OR 1.401 [in additive model], 95% CI 1.052-1.865, P = .021) to be independent predictors of postoperative AF.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed the association of the 112G>A polymorphism and postoperative AF in a cohort of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Department of Clinical Virology Faculty of medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Konstantinos V
KV
Voudris
Thrombosis Haemostasis and Vascular Biology Unit, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Cardiology Department, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Stavros
S
Apostolakis
Department of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
Panagiotis
P
Karyofillis
Research Unit, Army Share Fund Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Konstantinos
K
Doukas
Department of Clinical Virology Faculty of medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Apostolos
A
Zaravinos
Department of Clinical Virology Faculty of medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Vasilis P
VP
Androutsopoulos
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
Alkis
A
Michalis
Department of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
Vassilis
V
Voudris
Department of Clinical Virology Faculty of medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Electronic address: spandidos@spandidos.gr.
Demetrios A
DA
Spandidos
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011184:Postoperative Period; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
C489622:KCNE1 protein, human; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D004247:DNA