Heart-type fatty acid binding protein in elective cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: We sought to investigate whether heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), a new marker of myocardial necrosis, increases in relation to elective cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: We studied 25 consecutive patients (61 ± 16 years old, 21 men) admitted to our hospital for elective cardioversion of AF. Peripheral venous samples were drawn immediately before cardioversion, one hour and 24h after the procedure and assayed for H-FABP.

Results: A mean of 309 ± 183 J was used for cardioversion. Successful cardioversion in sinus rhythm was achieved in 18 patients (72%). Serum levels of H-FABP did not change significantly either in relation to the procedure [1385 (256-17,127)pg/mL at baseline, 1125 (290-15,238)pg/mL 1h post and 1045.5 (66-2981)pg/mL 24 h post cardioversion, p=0.37] or to the success of the procedure.

Conclusion: H-FABP does not significantly change following elective cardioversion for AF and we, therefore, speculate that myocardial necrosis does not occur during cardioversion.