Effects of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation on soluble P-selectin, von Willebrand factor and IL-6 in the peripheral and cardiac circulation.
BACKGROUND
Catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with inflammatory response, endothelial damage and with increased risk of thrombosis. However, whether these processes differ in peripheral and cardiac circulation is unknown.


METHODS
Plasma markers (von Willebrand factor (vWf), soluble P-selectin (sPsel) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)) were measured by ELISA at three time points in 80 patients (62±10 years, 63% males, 41% paroxysmal AF) undergoing CA. These were at baseline--from femoral vein (FV) and left atrium (LA) before ablation; directly after ablation--from the pulmonary vein (PV), LA and FV; and 24 hours after procedure--from a cubital vein (CV).


RESULTS
The levels of vWF and IL6--but not sP-sel--increased significantly 24 h after procedure (p<0.001). Baseline vWF was significantly associated with persistent AF (Beta = .303, p = 0.006 and Beta = .300, p = 0.006 for peripheral and cardiac levels, respectively), while persistent AF (Beta = .250, p = 0.031) and LAA flow pattern (Beta = .386, p<0.001) remained associated with vWF in cardiac blood after ablation. Advanced age was significantly associated with IL6 levels at baseline and after ablation in peripheral and cardiac blood. There were no clinical, procedural or anti-coagulation characteristics associated with sP-sel levels in cardiac blood, while peripheral sP-sel levels were associated with hypertension before (Beta = -.307, p = 0.007) and with persistent AF after ablation (Beta = -.262, p = 0.020).


CONCLUSIONS
vWF levels are higher in persistent AF and are associated with LAA rheological pattern after AF ablation. Increase of peripheral vWF and IL6 levels after procedure supports current AF ablation management with careful control of post-procedural anticoagulation to avoid ablation-related thromboembolism.
University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Electrophysiology, Leipzig, Germany; University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Jelena
J
Kornej
University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Electrophysiology, Leipzig, Germany.
Borislav
B
Dinov
University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Andrew D
AD
Blann
University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Electrophysiology, Leipzig, Germany.
Sascha
S
Rolf
University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Electrophysiology, Leipzig, Germany.
Arash
A
Arya
University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Electrophysiology, Leipzig, Germany.
Josephine
J
Schmidl
University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Electrophysiology, Leipzig, Germany.
Daniela
D
Husser
University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Electrophysiology, Leipzig, Germany.
Gerhard
G
Hindricks
University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Department of Electrophysiology, Leipzig, Germany.
Andreas
A
Bollmann
University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Gregory Y H
GY
Lip
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004452:Echocardiography; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000473:pathology; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D011846:Radio Waves; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D019007:P-Selectin; D014841:von Willebrand Factor