title: Influence of Inflammation and Atherosclerosis in Atrial Fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation markers have been associated with cardiovascular diseases including atrial fibrillation. This arrhythmia is the most frequent, with an incidence of 38/1000 person-years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study are to discuss the association between inflammation, atherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation and its clinical implications. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and inflammation is a triggering factor of atherosclerotic plaque rupture. In addition to coronary artery disease, clinical conditions identified as risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) are also associated with the inflammatory state such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart failure, metabolic syndrome and sedentary lifestyle. Biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, coagulation, and myocardial necrosis have been identified in patients with atrial fibrillation and these traditional risk factors. Some markers of inflammation were identified as predictors of recurrence of this arrhythmia, subsequent myocardial infarction, stroke by embolism, and death. Thus, approaches to manipulate the inflammatory pathways may be therapeutic interventions, benefiting patients with AF and increased inflammatory markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenue Alfredo Balena, 190, room 246, Centro, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. roselisboa@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Rose Mary Ferreira Lisboa
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Atrial fibrillation; Cardiovascular disease; Inflammation; Lipid profile; Thrombogenesis