Detection Of The Concentration Of Plasma C-reactive Protein And The Study Of Electrical Conduction Characteristics Of Coronary Sinus In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Part I Detection of the concentration of plasma C-reactive protein in patients with atrial fibrillation and its significanceBackground: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in daily clinical practice. Inflammatory changes have also been reported in patients with AF. Marked inflammatory infiltration, myocyte necrosis and fibrosis have been demonstrated in the atrial biopsies of patients with lone AF. AF may be persistent due to structural remodeling in the atria which are promoted by inflammation. C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation can predict cardiovascular events and stroke (a common sequela of AF).Objective: To study the relationship between the plasma concentration of CRP and AF.Methods: The concentration of CRP was detected by hsCRP ELISA in 21 patients with lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) during AF and 7 days after return to sinus rhythm. Level of CRP in patients with PAF was compared with those in patients with lone sustained atrial fibrillation (SAF), rheumatic heart disease and chronic AF (RHD), paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) and voluntary healthy subjects. Results: No significant changes were found between the CRP level during AF and that of 7 days after the recovery of sinus rhythm. Patients with PAF, SAF and RHD had high level of CRP when compared with the healthy subjects. Patients with SAF and patients with RHD had higher level of CRP than that of PAF. CRP in patients with SAF has nodifference from that in patients with RHD. The plasma concentration of CRP in patients with PSVT was similar to that of healthy subjects. The CRP level and HCT had no relationship with left atrial (LA) dimension, sex, ages and the time duration of PAR The HCT was higher in AF patients on episode than in PAF patients after 7 days of sinus rhythm, patients with PSVT and healthy subjects.Conclusions: CRP is elevated in AF patients. These results are reinforced by stepwise CRP elevation with sustained AF. The elevated CRP level may reflect an inflammatory state that promotes the persistence of AF, though the cause and effect relationship remains unknown.