European Heart Journal Advance Access originally published online on June 23, 2005
European Heart Journal 2005 26(20):2083-2092; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehi350
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inflammation in the genesis and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation
Department of Cardiology 2142, The Heart Center, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
Received 13 December 2004; revised 12 April 2005; accepted 11 May 2005; online publish-ahead-of-print 23 June 2005.
* Corresponding author. Tel: +45 43 45 38 48; fax: +45 43 45 38 24. E-mail address: engelmann{at}dadlnet.dk
The prevalence and persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the relative inefficacy of the currently available pharmacotherapy requires development of new treatment strategies. Recent findings have suggested a mechanistic link between inflammatory processes and the development of AF. Epidemiological studies have shown an association between C-reactive protein and both the presence of AF and the risk of developing future AF. In case–control studies, C-reactive protein is significantly elevated in AF patients and is associated with successful cardioversion. Moreover, C-reactive protein elevation is more pronounced in patients with persistent AF than in those with paroxysmal AF. Furthermore, treatment with glucocorticoids, statins, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers seems to reduce recurrence of AF. Part of this anti-arrhythmic effect may be through anti-inflammatory activity. This article reviews what is known about inflammation in genesis and perpetuation of AF, the putative underlying mechanisms, and possible therapeutic implications for the inhibition of inflammation as an evolving treatment modality for AF.
Key Words: Atrial fibrillation • Inflammation • C-reactive protein • Glucocorticoid • Statin
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. L. Serra and M. Bendersky Review: Atrial fibrillation and renin-angiotensin system Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease, June 1, 2008; 2(3): 215 - 223. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Soran, N. Younis, P. Currie, J. Silas, I.R. Jones, and G. Gill Influence of diabetes on the maintenance of sinus rhythm after a successful direct current cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation QJM, March 1, 2008; 101(3): 181 - 187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Fauchier, B. Pierre, A. de Labriolle, C. Grimard, N. Zannad, and D. Babuty Antiarrhythmic Effect of Statin Therapy and Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., February 26, 2008; 51(8): 828 - 835. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E M Kallergis, E G Manios, E M Kanoupakis, H E Mavrakis, S G Kolyvaki, G M Lyrarakis, G I Chlouverakis, and P E Vardas The role of the post-cardioversion time course of hs-CRP levels in clarifying the relationship between inflammation and persistence of atrial fibrillation Heart, February 1, 2008; 94(2): 200 - 204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. G. Cosio, E. Aliot, G. L. Botto, H. Heidbuchel, C. J. Geller, P. Kirchhof, J.-C. De Haro, R. Frank, J. P. Villacastin, J. Vijgen, et al. Delayed rhythm control of atrial fibrillation may be a cause of failure to prevent recurrences: reasons for change to active antiarrhythmic treatment at the time of the first detected episode Europace, January 1, 2008; 10(1): 21 - 27. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. T. Issac, H. Dokainish, and N. M. Lakkis Role of Inflammation in Initiation and Perpetuation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review of the Published Data J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., November 20, 2007; 50(21): 2021 - 2028. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M.S. Kostapanos, E.N. Liberopoulos, J.A. Goudevenos, D.P. Mikhailidis, and M.S. Elisaf Do statins have an antiarrhythmic activity? Cardiovasc Res, July 1, 2007; 75(1): 10 - 20. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Hernandez Madrid and C. Moro Atrial Fibrillation and C-Reactive Protein: Searching for Local Inflammation J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 17, 2007; 49(15): 1649 - 1650. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Liu, G. Li, L. Li, and P. Korantzopoulos Association Between C-Reactive Protein and Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation After Successful Electrical Cardioversion: A Meta-Analysis J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 17, 2007; 49(15): 1642 - 1648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. J. Ahlsson, L. Bodin, O. H. Lundblad, and A. G. Englund Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation is Not Correlated to C-Reactive Protein Ann. Thorac. Surg., April 1, 2007; 83(4): 1332 - 1337. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Shaw Genetics of postoperative complications following thoracic surgery. Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, December 1, 2006; 10(4): 327 - 345. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. E. Falagas, E. S. Rosmarakis, K. Rellos, A. Michalopoulos, G. Samonis, and S. N. Prapas Microbiologically documented nosocomial infections after coronary artery bypass surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., September 1, 2006; 132(3): 481 - 490. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Rahimi, S. Watzlawek, H. Thiele, M.-A. Secknus, B.-F. Hayerizadeh, J. Niebauer, and G. Schuler Incidence, time course, and predictors of early malignant ventricular arrhythmias after non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in patients with early invasive treatment Eur. Heart J., July 2, 2006; 27(14): 1706 - 1711. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. P. Goetze, L. Friis-Hansen, J. F. Rehfeld, B. Nilsson, and J. H. Svendsen Atrial secretion of B-type natriuretic peptide Eur. Heart J., July 2, 2006; 27(14): 1648 - 1650. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Ehrlich, S. H. Hohnloser, and S. Nattel Role of angiotensin system and effects of its inhibition in atrial fibrillation: clinical and experimental evidence Eur. Heart J., March 1, 2006; 27(5): 512 - 518. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. J. Boos and G. Y.H. Lip Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation by Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., February 21, 2006; 47(4): 889 - 890. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. J. Boos, R. A. Anderson, and G. Y.H. Lip Is atrial fibrillation an inflammatory disorder? Eur. Heart J., January 2, 2006; 27(2): 136 - 149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|