Correlations of SCN5A gene polymorphisms with onset of atrial fibrillation

The aim of this study was to analyze the correlations of the sodium channel, voltage-gated, type V, alpha subunit (SCN5A) gene polymorphisms with the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF), and its clinical significance.

The quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRT-PCR) amplification and the TaqMan analysis were utilized to analyze the composition of SCN5A genotypes and alleles in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 48 normal controls and 115 AF patients. Meanwhile, the differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 1673 A>G, and 3666+69 G>C, between the AF group and the control group were analyzed using the χ2-test. The high-risk factors influencing the AF attack were analyzed via logistic regression analysis, as well as univariate and multivariate analyses. In addition, the correlations of gene polymorphisms with high-risk factors (drinking and hypertension) for AF were verified by the χ2-test.

There were statistically significant differences in the incidence rate of hypertension, the times of smoking and drinking, and the frequencies of palpitation and syncope between the AF group and the control group (p<0.05). The composition of genotypes and alleles of 1673 A>G and 3666+69 G>C in the AF group was significantly different from that of the control group (p<0.05). According to the results of the logistic regression analysis, as well as the univariate and multivariate analyses, drinking, and hypertension were associated with the occurrence of AF (p<0.05). Furthermore, statistically significant differences were observed in the composition of the gene polymorphisms 1673 A>G and 3666+69 G>C between patients with and without histories of drinking and hypertension (p<0.05).

There are significant differences in SCN5A gene polymorphisms 1673 A>G and 3666+69 G>C between AF patients and normal controls. Moreover, drinking and hypertension can influence the changes in the gene polymorphisms.