Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia; its most prevalent and devastating complication is stroke. A delay of AF onset >48 h is believed to be clinically significant. Mid-regional pro A-type natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) could be of interest in the identification of the time from onset of AF to presentation.
Design and methods: We measured MR-proANP plasma concentration at presentation in consecutive patients in whom onset of AF was determined, without evidence of concomitant acute heart failure.
Results: Forty-seven patients were included. Patients with an AF onset <48 h (n=19) had decreased MR-proANP concentrations versus patients with onset >48 h (144.0 [129.2-213.7] versus 321.7 [236.4-425.6] pmol/L, p<0.001); MR-proANP was the only independent variable associated with AF <48 h according to multivariate analysis. Area under the ROC curve for identify AF onset <48 h was 0.878 [95%CI 0.778-0.978].
Conclusions: MR-proANP concentration may reliably identify the time from onset of AF to presentation.
Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.