@article{3149568,
    title = "C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin 6, and N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic
Peptide Following Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation: Is There a Role
of Biomarkers in Arrhythmia Recurrence?",
    author = "Psychari, Stavroula N. and Chatzopoulos, Dionyssios and Iliodromitis, and Efstathios K. and Apostolou, Thomas S. and Kremastinos, Dimitrios T.",
    journal = "International Angiology",
    year = "2011",
    volume = "62",
    number = "4",
    pages = "310-316",
    publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",
    issn = "0392-9590",
    doi = "10.1177/0003319710382418",
    keywords = "atrial fibrillation; natriuretic peptides; inflammation; C-reactive
protein",
    abstract = "Aims: We investigated the role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
(hsCRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic
peptide (NTpro-BNP), in atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence rate.
Methods: A total of 80 patients with first AF episode were studied
prospectively. Echocardiography (ECG), Holter ECG, and measurements of
hsCRP, IL-6, and NTpro-BNP were performed immediately post conversion
and at 1 month. Results: Recurrence was positively related to left
atrial volume (P < .001), with no difference in NTpro-BNP, hsCRP, and
IL-6. Decreased NTpro-BNP was observed in all at 1 month (P < .001, F =
63.4) and was positively related to left atrial volume (P < .01). In the
lone AF subgroup, NTpro-BNP was lower and dropped significantly at 1
month (interaction F = 6.53, P < .01). Conclusions: Atrial volume was
related to AF recurrence, whereas hsCRP, IL-6, and NTpro-BNP were not
reliable for AF relapse. Relation of NTpro-BNP to left atrial volume
could indicate a role in the atrial remodeling process."
}