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Interleukin-2 serum levels variations in recent onset atrial fibrillation are related with cardioversion outcome

Ioannis Rizos1, Sotirios Tsiodras, Angelos G Rigopoulos

  • 12nd Academic Department of Cardiology, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, 19 Kentauron Street, 15237 Filothei, Athens, Greece. ioannis.c.rizos@otenet.gr

Cytokine
|October 10, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Low interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels on admission predict successful amiodarone cardioversion in recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with cardiovascular conditions. This finding underscores inflammation

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) poses a significant clinical challenge.
  • Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a factor in AF pathophysiology.
  • Predictors of successful pharmaceutical cardioversion require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and the success of amiodarone cardioversion in patients with recent-onset AF.
  • To identify potential predictors of successful cardioversion in a specific patient cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Eighty-six patients with symptomatic recent-onset AF and comorbidities (hypertension and/or coronary artery disease) were studied.
  • Standardized protocol included echocardiography and measurement of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) at admission and 48 hours.
  • Intravenous amiodarone was administered, and cardioversion success was assessed by 48 hours.

Main Results:

  • Seventy patients (81%) cardioverted to sinus rhythm within 48 hours.
  • Higher median serum IL-2 levels on admission were observed in non-cardioverted patients (P=0.002).
  • At 48 hours, non-cardioverted patients had significantly higher IL-6 (P=0.005) and hsCRP (P=0.001) levels.
  • Lower admission IL-2 levels independently predicted successful cardioversion (OR: 0.154, P=0.004).

Conclusions:

  • Low serum IL-2 levels on admission are associated with successful amiodarone cardioversion in recent-onset AF patients with hypertension and/or coronary artery disease.
  • This suggests a role for inflammation in the success of pharmaceutical cardioversion for AF.
  • These findings may have prognostic and therapeutic implications for AF management.

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