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Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Concentration and Early Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Electrical Cardioversion
Author(s) -
XIA WEI,
QU XIUFEN,
YU YANG,
ZHANG XUELI,
FENG WEI,
SONG YING
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2008.01131.x
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , cardioversion , cardiology , electrical cardioversion , asymmetric dimethylarginine , anesthesia , arginine , biochemistry , chemistry , amino acid
Background:The purpose of this study was to determine whether high asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels could predict early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after successful electrical cardioversion (CV).Methods: Seventy patients with persistent AF, but without known heart disease, who underwent elective electrical CV were enrolled. Blood samples for ADMA determination were drawn from all patients just before the CV.Results: The study population comprised 64 patients (men 73%, age 62.56 ± 7.72 years, duration of AF 6.00 ± 1.90 months) in whom sinus rhythm was restored. After 1‐month follow‐up, 30 (47%) patients had recurrence of AF. The median ADMA concentration was significantly higher in patients with AF recurrence (1.93 μmol/L vs 1.43 μmol/L; P = 0.001). AF recurrence was associated with higher pre‐CV ADMA levels (odds ratio [OR]= 4.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44–12.22; P = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, ADMA was the only independent predictor of arrhythmia recurrence (OR = 4.19; 95%CI, 1.12–15.77; P = 0.034).Conclusion: Our data suggest that high levels of ADMA are associated with an increased risk of AF recurrence within 1 month after electrical CV, supporting the hypothesis that ADMA might participate in the process of atrial remodeling.