High-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after primary circumferential pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) is difficult to predict. Inflammation is associated with the development of AF. Inflammatory markers, such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), are related to AF development via atrial remodeling. However, it is unknown whether plasma hsCRP concentration before CPVI can be used as a predictor for AF recurrence.

Methods: A total of 121 patients without structural heart disease who underwent primary CPVI by a single operator were included in the study (paroxysmal/persistent AF: 77/44). Left atrial diameter was measured by transesophageal echocardiography. Plasma hsCRP concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on the follow-up outcomes, patients were divided into two groups, a recurrence group and a nonrecurrence group. AF recurrence was defined as AF or atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia episodes lasting for ≥30 s during regular follow-up (>12 months).

Results: A total of 36 (29.8%) patients (paroxysmal/persistent AF: 19 [24.7%]/17 [38.6%]) had AF recurrence in a mean 23 (range, 12-44) month follow-up period. The plasma hsCRP concentration in the recurrence group was significantly higher than that in the nonrecurrence group for all patients (median [quartile range] 2.22 [1.97] mg/L vs 0.89 [1.30] mg/L, P < 0.001), for patients with paroxysmal AF (2.12 [2.78] mg/L vs 0.84 [1.15] mg/L, P = 0.028), and for those with persistent AF (2.29 [1.08] mg/L vs 0.89 [1.53] mg/L, P = 0.005). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the higher level of the plasma hsCRP (P < 0.001) was a significant prognostic predictor of AF recurrence, both for patients with paroxysmal AF (P = 0.012) and those with persistent AF (P = 0.003).

Conclusion: Plasma hsCRP concentration before CPVI was associated with AF recurrence after primary CPVI procedure for both paroxysmal and persistent AF patients. Plasma hsCRP concentration could play a role in prediction of AF recurrence after primary CPVI.