Changes of concentration of plasma C-reactive protein in patients with atrial fibrillation / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To explore link of change of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Method The hsCRP enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods were used to measure plasma CRP levels in 21 patients with lone paroxysmal AF (LPAF) during AF and 7 days after return to sinus rhythm ;28 patients with lone sustained atrial fibrillation(LSAF) and 27 patients with rheumatic heart disease and chronic AF(RHD).Levels of plasma CRP were compared to levels in 32 patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia(PSVT) and 20 voluntary healthy subjects. Results Patients with LPAF,LPAF and RHD had high levels of CRP when compared with PSVT and the healthy subjects.No significant changes of CRP levels were found between the onset AF patients and those after 7 days of recovery.Patients with lone persistent AF and rheumatic heart disease with persistent AF had higher levels of CRP than those with LPAF,but have no significance.There were positive correlation between the duration of AF and the levels of CRP.But there were no relation with left atrial size on echocardiography,sex and ages. Conclusion These results indicate that elevated CRP levels in AF patients may play an important role in the occurrence and sustainment of AF.

Changes of sarcoplamic reticular Ca(2+)-ATPase and IP(3)-I receptor mRNA expression in patients with atrial fibrillation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate changes in the expression of sarcoplamic reticular Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) and IP(3)-I receptors (IP(3)R(1)) mRNA in patients with atrial fibrillation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-eight patients with mitral stenosis undergoing open heart surgery were studied. 100 mg of atrial tissue was obtained during surgery from the right appendage and the right atrium. The amount of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) amount of SERCA and IP(3)R(1) was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and normalized to the mRNA levels of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Levels of mRNA expression of SERCA in patients with AF, as compared with subjects in sinus rhythm, was lower and that of IP(3)R(1) was higher. The longer AF was sustained, the higher the levels of mRNA. There was no significant difference between right atrial free wall and right appendage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The expression changes of SERCA and IP3R mRNA may correlate with the initiation or maintenance of AF.</p>