Research findings from Y.K. On et al update understanding of atrial fibrillation
2009 JUL 12 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from Seoul, South Korea, "The Cox maze procedure was developed as a surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation. However, atrial fibrillation recurs in some patients, and atrial remodeling in the form of fibrosis can lead to perpetuation of atrial fibrillation." "To identify the predictor of the persistence of atrial fibrillation after the maze procedure using cryoablation, we evaluated the preoperative plasma transforming growth factor beta 1. We also examined the correlations between plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 levels and the degree of atrial fibrosis. Preoperative plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 levels were measured in 86 consecutive patients (age, 54 +/- 12 years) who underwent both the open heart operation for valvular heart disease and the surgical maze procedure with cryoablation for persistent atrial fibrillation. We measured the degree of fibrosis from the tissue of the left atrium. At 1 year's follow-up, 10 of 86 patients had persistent atrial fibrillation. Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation had higher preoperative plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 levels than the patients with sinus rhythm (0.44 +/- 0.29 vs 0.32 +/- 0.15 ng/mL, P = .03). Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation had higher mRNA expressions of collagen III and lower mRNA expressions of atrial natriuretic peptide than those with sinus rhythm, and the plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 levels correlated with the degree of fibrosis in the left atrium (r = 0.497, P = .022). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 levels were independently associated with the postoperative persistence of atrial fibrillation at 1 year's follow-up. Preoperative plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 levels could be used to predict the persistence of atrial fibrillation at 1 year's follow-up after the surgical maze procedure by using cryoablation," wrote Y.K. On and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Preoperative plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 levels were correlated with the degree of fibrosis in the left atria of patients with mitral valvular heart disease." On and colleagues published the results of their research in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 as a biochemical marker to predict the persistence of atrial fibrillation after the surgical maze procedure. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2009;137(6):1515-1520). For additional information, contact E.S. Jeon, Sungkyunkwan UniversitySchool Medical, Samsung Med Center, Cardiac & Vascular Center, Dept. of Medical, Division Cardiology, 50 Irwon Dong, Seoul 135710, South Korea. The publisher of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery can be contacted at: Mosby-Elsevier, 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA. Keywords: South Korea, Seoul, Atrial Fibrillation, Biochemical, Cardiology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis, Heart Disease, Hepatology, Surgery, Valvular Heart Disease. This article was prepared by Heart Disease Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Heart Disease Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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