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Updated: Feb 9, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Interventional left atrial appendage closure may affect metabolism of essential amino acids and bioenergetic efficacy
J Rusnak1, M Behnes1, A Saleh1
1First Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim (UMM), Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, European Center for AngioScience (ECAS) and DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research) partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.
Background:
Interventional closure of left atrial appendage (LAAC) represents an alternative for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Whether LAAC may affect metabolomic pathways has not been investigated yet. This study evaluates the impact of LAAC on the metabolism of essential amino acids, kynurenine and creatinine.
Methods:
Peripheral blood samples of prospectively enrolled patients undergoing successful LAAC were taken before (T0) and 6 months after (T1, mid-term follow-up). Targeted metabolomic profiling was performed using electrospray ionization liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS/MS) and MS/MS measurements focusing on metabolism of essential amino acids.
Results:
44 patients with non-valvular AF (mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 4, mean HAS-BLED score 4) were enrolled. Changes in metabolites of essential amino acids, myocardial contraction and bioenergetic efficacy, such as phenylalanine (percentage change 8.2%, p = 0.006), tryptophan (percentage change 20.3%, p = 0.0006), tyrosine (percentage change 20.2%, p = 0.0001), creatinine (percentage change 7.2%, p > 0.05) and kynurenine (percentage change 8.3%, p = 0.0239) were found at mid-term follow-up.
Conclusions:
LAAC may affect the metabolism of essential amino acids and bioenergetic efficacy. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02985463.
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