METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and six patients with a history of symptomatic AF lasting > or =1 day (age 63+/-14 years, mean+/-S.D.) underwent
cardioversion. Echocardiography and
hs-CRP assay were performed immediately prior to
cardioversion. SR was restored in 84 patients (79%). By using selected cutoff values, multiple discriminant analysis revealed significant associations between successful
cardioversion and a shorter duration of AF (AF duration< or =36 days, odds ratio (OR), 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.97-0.99), smaller left atrial diameter (left atrial diameter< or =40 mm, OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.94), better-preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction> or =60%, OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.99), and lower
hs-CRP level (
hs-CRP< or =0.12 mg/dL, OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21-0.51). During a follow-up period of 140+/-144 days, AF recurred in 64 patients (76%). By using a cutoff value of
hs-CRP> or =0.06 mg/dL, Cox proportional-hazards regression model found that only
hs-CRP level was an independent predictor of AF recurrence (OR 5.30, 95% CI 2.46-11.5) after adjustment for coexisting cardiovascular risks. When patients were divided by the
hs-CRP level of 0.06 mg/dL, percentage of maintenance of SR below and above the cutoff was 53% and 4%, respectively (log-rank test, p<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: