[Changes in the serum marker of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation associated with atrial fibrillation]

Abstract

This work was designed to study characteristics of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation associated with idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) and AF with concomitant arterial hypertension (AH). The same parameters were investigated in connection with different types of arrhythmia. It is shown that patients with AF have increased levels of serum markers of fibrosis and inflammation (C-terminalpropeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and IL-6); they are especially high in case of combination ofAF and AH. Characteristics of fibrosis are related to the form of AF. PICP levels increase in patients with chronic and recurrent AF. Activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) does not depend on the type of AF whereas concentration of tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor-1 (TMPI-1) tends to decrease in case of permanent AF. Patients with recurrent and especially permanent AF have higher IL-6 levels than practically healthy subjects. Permanent AF is associated with a slightly elevated level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha.