N-terminal proANF in acute atrial fibrillation: a biochemical marker of atrial pressures but not a predictor for conversion to sinus rhythm. Digitalis in Acute Atrial Fibrillation (DAAF) Trial group
Hornestam, B.; Hall, C.; Held, P.; Carlsson, T.; Falk, L.; Karlson, B.W.; Lundström, T.; Peterson, M.
American Heart Journal 135(6 Pt 1): 1040-1047
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-8703 PMID: 9630109 Accession: 046756761
Atrial filling pressures are increased in acute atrial fibrillation, which stimulates the release of atrial natriuretic factor pro-hormone, proANF. In a randomized trial comparing digoxin with placebo in 216 patients, we investigated whether the baseline plasma level of N-terminal proANF is a predictor for conversion to sinus rhythm and the relation among N-terminal proANF, conversion to sinus rhythm, and changes in heart rate. N-terminal proANF was increased at baseline and decreased significantly in patients converting to sinus rhythm, whereas it was mainly unchanged in nonconverters. N-terminal proANF was not a predictor of conversion to sinus rhythm. A relation was found between relative changes in heart rate and N-terminal proANF in nonconverters. The level of N-terminal proANF does not predict conversion to sinus rhythm, which indicates that hemodynamics per se is not important. There is a correlation between relative changes in heart rate and N-terminal proANF in nonconverters.