Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels for predicting the outcome of atrial fibrillation.

The predictive value of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on the cardioversion outcome was evaluated in 46 hospitalized patients with recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). Cardioversion was successful in 42 (91%) patients, 7 (15%) of them regained sinus rhythm spontaneously. After 12 months, 14 (33%) cardioverted patients were in chronic AF.