title: The influence of the atrial fibrillation episode duration on the endothelial function in patients treated with pulmonary veins isolation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with endothelial dysfunctions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the duration of an AF episode on the endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 65 patients with persistent AF qualified for the percutaneous pulmonary veins isolation. Patients were divided into three subgroups with increasing time of the duration of AF episode, as follow: ≤ 7 months (n = 24 patients), from 7 to 14 months (n = 18 patients) and ≥ 14 months (n = 23 patients). Concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1), thrombomodulin (TM) and VEGF in serum were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age in the whole study group was 56 years with 84.6% of males. Patients with longer lasting AF episode had a higher body mass index and less incidence of heart failure. Median values of ET1, TM and VEGF were 3.1 (2.5-3.5) pg/mL, 3126.0 (2827.2-3594.1) pg/mL and 464.6 (323.6-630.1), respectively. Among increasing tertiles of AF episode duration, median ET-1 serum concentrations were as follows: 3.3 (2.8-3.7) pg/mL, 3.06 (2.6-3.4) pg/mL, 2.7 (2.3-3.2) pg/mL, p = 0.019, respectively. There was also a trend towards negative association of serum VEGF level with AF episode duration. Serum biomarkers' levels were not associated with total AF duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AF episode duration may be associated with the endothelial function, assessed by serum biomarkers. ET-1 serum concentrations are significantly lower in patients with longer AF. ET-1, TM and VEGF have no correlation with total AF duration.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peller
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lodziński
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozierański
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tymińska
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balsam
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kajurek
authors.affiliation: Departament of Cardiology and Internal Diseases, Military Institute of Medicine, Warszawa, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiliszek
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koźluk
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opolski
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; C546931:THBD protein, human; D018180:Thrombomodulin; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: VEGF; atrial fibrillation; endothelial function; endothelin-1; thrombomodulin