The correlation of serum long non-coding RNA ANRIL with risk factors, functional outcome, and prognosis in atrial fibrillation patients with ischemic stroke.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with ischemic stroke and investigate its correlation with risk factors, functional outcome, and prognosis.

Methods: A total of 386 consecutive AF patients were recruited. AF patients were followed up for 24-48 months by outpatient follow-up, telephone follow-up, and medical record. The time of ischemic stroke in patients with AF was recorded, and follow-up was continued for 6 months. LncRNA ANRIL expression from serum was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results: Compared with the AF with ischemic stroke group (14.3 ± 2.3), patients in the AF without ischemic stroke group (11.9 ± 1.8) had significantly lower serum lncRNA ANRIL levels (P < .05). The sensitivity and specificity of lncRNA ANRIL for identifying AF with ischemic stroke were 76.6% and 81.4%, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis results shown that lncRNA ANRIL was significantly correlated with the NIHSS score (r  = .490, P < .001) and the mRS score (r  = .466, P < .001). Compared with the lncRNA ANRIL high-expression group, the recurrence-free survival (RFS) of the lncRNA ANRIL low-expression group was significantly higher (χ  = 11.009, log-rank P < .001). Cox proportional regression model analysis indicated that the serum lncRNA ANRIL level (P = .004), NIHSS score (P = .001), infarct volume (P = .035), and smoking (P < .001) were the risk factors for AF with ischemic stroke.

Conclusion: Serum lncRNA ANRIL exerts a good predictive value for AF with ischemic stroke, and its increased expression is correlated with worse RFS for patients.