Disturbed atrial metabolism, shear stress, and cardiac load contribute to atrial fibrillation after ablation: AXAFA biomolecule study

Winnie Chua, Alya Khashaba, Hansel Canagarajah, Jens Cosedis Nielsen, Luigi di Biase, Karl Georg Haeusler, Gerhard Hindricks, Lluis Mont, Jonathan Piccini, Renate B Schnabel, Ulrich Schotten, Ursula-Henrike Wienhues-Thelen, Tanja Zeller, Larissa Fabritz, Paulus Kirchhof*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Aims: Different disease processes can combine to cause atrial fibrillation (AF). Their contribution to recurrent AF after ablation in patients is not known. Cardiovascular processes associated with recurrent AF after AF ablation were determined by quantifying biomolecules related to inflammation, metabolism, proliferation, fibrosis, shear stress, atrial pressure, and others in the AXAFA biomolecule study.

Methods and results: Twelve circulating cardiovascular biomolecules (ANGPT2, BMP10, CA125, hsCRP, ESM1, FABP3, FGF23, GDF15, IGFBP7, IL6, NT-proBNP, and hsTnT) were quantified in plasma samples obtained prior to a first AF ablation using high-throughput, high-precision assays. Cox regression was used to identify biomolecules associated with recurrent AF during the first 3 months after AF ablation. In 433 patients (64 years [58, 70]; 33% women), baseline concentrations of ANGPT2, BMP10, hsCRP, FGF23, FABP3, GDF15, and NT-proBNP were elevated in patients with recurrent AF (120/433; 28%). After adjustment for 11 clinical features and randomized treatment, elevated NT-proBNP [hazard ratio (HR) 1.58, 95% confidence interval (1.29, 1.94)], ANGPT2 [HR 1.37, (1.12, 1.67)], and BMP10 [HR 1.24 (1.02, 1.51)] remained associated with recurrent AF. Concentrations of ANGPT2, BMP10, and NT-proBNP decreased in patients who remained arrhythmia free, but not in patients with recurrent AF, highlighting their connection to AF. The other eight biomarkers showed unchanged concentrations.

Conclusion: Elevated concentrations of ANGPT2, BMP10, and NT-proBNP are associated with recurrent AF after a first AF ablation, suggesting that processes linked to disturbed cardiomyocyte metabolism, altered atrial shear stress, and increased load contribute to AF after AF ablation in patients.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbereuae028
Number of pages12
JournalEuropace
Volume26
Issue number2
Early online date24 Jan 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2024

Bibliographical note

Funding:
AXAFA–AFNET5 received support from BMS/Pfizer and the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research supported by the German Ministry of Education and Research (DZHK). The analyses reported here were supported in part by European Union-funded CATCH ME (grant agreement no. 633196) and MAESTRIA (grant agreement 965286), both to P.K., U.S., and L.F. Biomolecule quantification was performed by Roche Diagnostics as an in-kind donation to the CATCH ME project. J.C.N. was supported by a grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF16OC0018658) outside this work. U.-H.W.-T. is an employee of Roche Diagnostics.

Keywords

  • Ablation
  • Angiopoietin 2
  • Rhythm control
  • Bone morphogenetic protein 10
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • N-Terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide

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