Association between transforming growth factor β1 and atrial fibrillation in essential hypertensive patients

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) was one of the main factors for accelerating atrial fibrosis and has been reported with significantly higher level in plasma of the patients with essential hypertension (EH), especially in those with target organ damage. The contribution of TGFβ1 in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF) in EH patients remains unknown.

75 EH patients with documented AF were divided into the paroxysmal AF group (EH+pAF, n = 44) or the chronic AF group (EH+cAF, n = 31), and 37 EH patients with sinus rhythm (SR) were assigned into the EH+SR group. All data including EH duration, blood pressure, lipids, glucose and left atrial diameter (LAD) measured by ultrasonic cardiogram were recorded. The serum levels of TGFβ1 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were detected, and compared with normal controls (NC group, n = 36).

The serum levels of TGFβ1 and CTGF in all EH groups were significantly higher than those in the NC group (p < 0.001, respectively). Among the EH groups, TGFβ1 and CTGF levels were highest in the cAF group, followed by the pAF and the SR groups (p < 0.005). However, no significant difference was observed in TGFβ1 and CTGF levels between the cAF group and the pAF group. The serum TGFβ1 in AF patients was independently correlated with LAD, the presence of AF, aldosterone, CTGF and age.

The serum TGFβ1 promotes CTGF synthesis and causes left atrial enlargement and remodeling, which is possibly involved in the pathogenesis of AF in EH patients.