title: Decrease in B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels and Successful Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Heart Failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the association between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure. This study aimed to examine the impact of elimination of AF by catheter ablation on BNP levels in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four AF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 50%, who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation therapy of AF, were included. BNP sampling was performed at baseline, 3 days, and 1 month after ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a follow-up period of 6 months, the BNP levels decreased significantly in the nonrecurrence group (n = 35; median 126.3 [interquartile 57.2-206.5] pg/mL, 63.5 [23.9-180.2] pg/mL, and 45.9 [21.9-160.3] pg/mL, P < 0.001, respectively), but not in the recurrence group (n = 19; 144.7 [87.1-217.3] pg/mL, 88.8 [12.9-213.2] pg/mL, and 118.5 [51.6-298.2] pg/mL, P = 0.368, respectively). The patients in the nonrecurrence group had a higher percentage relative reduction in BNP levels from baseline to 1 month after ablation than those in the recurrence group (56.5 [-9.0-77.4]% vs -2.4 [-47.1-60.9]%, P = 0.027). Additionally, a relative reduction in BNP levels significantly correlated with an increase in LVEF after ablation (r = 0.486, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma BNP levels decreased significantly with successful catheter ablation of AF in patients with impaired LVEF. The decrease in BNP levels might be associated with early recovery of cardiac function and subsequent maintenance of sinus rhythm at follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inden
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamikubo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanzaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Health Science, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Toyoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murohara
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: B-type natriuretic peptide; atrial fibrillation; catheter ablation; heart failure; reverse remodeling