Role of tissue C-reactive protein in atrial cardiomyocytes of patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: Pathogenetic implications

Maria Lucia Narducci, Gemma Pelargonio, Antonio Dello Russo, Michela Casella, Luigi Marzio Biasucci, Giuseppe La Torre, Vincenzo Pazzano, Pasquale Santangeli, Alfonso Baldi, Giovanna Liuzzo, Claudio Tondo, Andrea Natale, Filippo Crea

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: Histological studies support the important role of inflammation in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). We describe a novel and safe technique of atrial biopsy during AF radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) to investigate the role of atrial tissue inflammation. Methods and results: We enrolled 70 consecutive patients (age 60 ± 12 years, 49 males) undergoing RFCA for AF. The control group was represented by 10 patients with WolffParkinsonWhite syndrome undergoing trans-septal puncture. Atrial biopsies were obtained by washing the dilator and needle used for trans-septal puncture with 20 mL sterile phosphate-buffered saline. The presence of intracytoplasmic C-reactive protein was assessed in formalin-fixed atrial specimens by immunohistochemistry. A sufficient amount of atrial tissue was obtained in 23/70 (32) patients with AF and in 4/10 (40) of the control group. Intracytoplasmic localization of C-reactive protein was found in isolated atrial cardiomyocytes in 11 (73) of 15 patients with paroxysmal AF as compared with 2 (25) of eight patients with persistent AF (P 0.02). Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrate the safety and feasibility of a novel technique to obtain atrial specimens during routine trans-septal puncture. Local inflammation assessed by atrial tissue localization of C-reactive protein is more likely involved in paroxysmal rather than in persistent AF
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1133-1140
Number of pages8
JournalEuropace
Volume2011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Keywords

  • Atrial endomyocardial biopsy
  • Atrial fibrillation

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