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Endothelin system and atrial fibrillation post-cardiac surgery

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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

We investigated the relation between the endothelin system and atrial fibrillation.

Background

Endothelin has been implicated in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation, but the exact role of A- and B-receptors is unknown.

Methods

We obtained right atrial biopsies from patients in sinus rhythm and preserved left ventricular function, undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. The expression of endothelin, A- and B-receptors was measured using real time reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction.

Results

We studied 52 patients (45 male, mean age 66 ± 1 years, mean ejection fraction 52 ± 1%). During a 5-day post-operative period, persistent atrial fibrillation occurred in 15 patients (28.8%). Endothelin mRNA expression was comparable in patients who subsequently developed atrial fibrillation and in those maintaining sinus rhythm. However, the former group displayed down-regulation of endothelin A- (by approximately 60%, p = 0.0059) and of B-receptors (by approximately 40%, p = 0.0084). The decreased endothelin A-receptor expression could predict atrial fibrillation occurrence (Wilks λ = 0.86, F = 6.16, p = 0.017).

Conclusion

Decreased endothelin A- and B-receptor expression is associated with atrial fibrillation after bypass surgery.

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Acknowledgements

Paraskevi Lioni, BSc, offered invaluable help as a research coordinator. We are grateful to our patients for their participation in the study.

Funding

This work was supported by two grants from the Hellenic Ministry of Development, General Council for Research and Technology (1st Project: PENED Prosmeno-7034-05/21/2001 and 2nd Project: Operational Program for Competitiveness, Axis 4-Measure 4.5, EPAN 2002, Hercules).

Disclosures

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Theofilos M. Kolettis

  2. Department of Cardiology, Red Cross Hospital, 1 Erythrou Stavrou Str., 115 26, Athens, Greece

    Zenon S. Kyriakides & Nikolaos Nikolaou

  3. Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Eleni Zygalaki & Evi S. Lianidou

  4. Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece

    Stamatis Kyrzopoulos, Loukas Kaklamanis & Dimitrios Th. Kremastinos

Authors
  1. Theofilos M. Kolettis
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  2. Zenon S. Kyriakides
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  3. Eleni Zygalaki
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  4. Stamatis Kyrzopoulos
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  5. Loukas Kaklamanis
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  6. Nikolaos Nikolaou
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  7. Evi S. Lianidou
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  8. Dimitrios Th. Kremastinos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zenon S. Kyriakides.

Additional information

Theofilos M. Kolettis and Zenon S. Kyriakides contributed equally to the study.

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Kolettis, T.M., Kyriakides, Z.S., Zygalaki, E. et al. Endothelin system and atrial fibrillation post-cardiac surgery. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 21, 203–208 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-008-9206-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-008-9206-5

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