LAUSR

BACKGROUND Biomarkers of left atrial (LA) overload are considered as factors influencing efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment. The increasing rate of obesity contributes to obese patients constituting a significant group of subjects qualified to electrical cardioversion (CVE). AIM The aim of the study is to evaluate serum concentration of biomarkers of LA overload and their impact on CVE efficacy. METHODS Eighty-two patients with persistent AF, who undergone successful CVE were prospectively enrolled in the study. The study group was divided into an obese (OG) and a non-obese group (NOG). The serum levels of biomarkers: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, copeptin, galectin-3, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), were measured on the day of admission and in follow-up. RESULTS The baseline and follow-up hsCRP levels were increased in OG compared to NOG. Four-week CVE efficacy was 38.8% in OG and 60.6% in NOG. Time of the observation, allocation to the groups and CVE outcomes did not have an impact on the most of LA biomarkers' concentration. Baseline biomarkers' of LA overload concentrations were associated with the clinical characteristics of the study group, i.e. log10 (GDF-15) and log10 (renalase) serum levels correlated positively with CHA2DS2-VASc score. CONCLUSIONS  Although obesity modifies the long-term non-satisfied efficacy of CVE, OG and NOG do not significantly differ in most of biomarkers of LA overload, except hsCRP. CVE efficacy seems to be independent on biomarkers' levels. Satisfying procedure outcome does not affect their blood concentration.