Abstract
Atrial fibrosis can present as an arrhythmogenic substrate that is correlated with higher recurrence after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Galectin-3, a beta-galactoside-binding lectin, is highly expressed and secreted from macrophages and is important in inflammation and fibrosis. We assessed the clinical implications of serum galectin-3 in patients with atrial fibrillation. This was a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation in a tertiary referral center from February 2017 to September 2017. Intracardiac blood sampling, echocardiographic measurements, magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement, electrophysiologic testing, and endocardial voltage mapping were consistently implemented in 75 patients before the ablation. Serum galectin-3 level was higher in patients with diabetes mellitus and was correlated with values that indicated the left atrial size. During a median 14 months of follow-up, atrial tachyarrhythmia recurred in 27% of patients. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio 6.8; 95% confidence interval 1.6–28.9) and higher galectin-3 levels (hazard ratio 1.3; 95% confidence interval 1.0–1.7) were associated with increased risk of recurrence. Serum galectin-3 may be a prognostic biomarker for risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation planned catheter ablation.
Highlights
Atrial fibrosis can present as an arrhythmogenic substrate that is correlated with higher recurrence after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
Because galectin-3 secretion in fibroblasts and macrophages was increased in diseases associated with fibrosis other than cardiac diseases, patients who were more than 80 years of age or had a history of liver cirrhosis, renal impairment (< 30 mL/min calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation), lung disease, or cancer were excluded to reduce confounding factors
Serum galectin-3 obtained from the left atrium was positively correlated with left atrial size measured by anteroposterior diameter in the long-axis parasternal view on echocardiography (r = 0.23, p = 0.049, Fig. 2A), the volume in magnetic resonance imaging (r = 0.48, p < 0.001), and total low voltage area in a 3-D mapping system (r = 0.33, p = 0.021)
Summary
Atrial fibrosis can present as an arrhythmogenic substrate that is correlated with higher recurrence after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. We assessed the clinical implications of serum galectin-3 in patients with atrial fibrillation. This was a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation in a tertiary referral center from February 2017 to September 2017. Serum galectin-3 may be a prognostic biomarker for risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation planned catheter ablation. Since the recognition of triggers that initiate atrial fibrillation from the pulmonary veins, electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins using radiofrequency catheter ablation has become an important therapeutic option in patients with recurrent, drug-refractory s ymptoms[2,3]. We assessed the clinical implications of serum galectin-3 in patients who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
