Why the study?
Does baseline plasma BNP level predict recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful electrical cardioversion?
Does baseline plasma BNP level predict recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful electrical cardioversion?
Higher baseline plasma BNP levels are associated with a greater risk of atrial fibrillation recurrence after successful electrical cardioversion, suggesting its utility as a predictive biomarker.
May aid recurrence risk stratification after cardioversion; supports biomarker role but leaves open prospective validation.
UNLABELLED: A meta-analysis was undertaken to examine the relationship between plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after successful electrical cardioversion. The literature search was conducted using key inclusion criteria for papers published between January 1980 and March 2011 listed in the PubMed(®)/MEDLINE(®) DATABASE: Data were analysed using RevMan version 5.1 software; a manual search was also performed. Ten studies were finally included. Results showed that baseline BNP levels were higher in patients with AF recurrence than in those without recurrence, the standardized mean difference in plasma BNP level being -1.35 (95% confidence interval -2.17, -0.53, Z-score for overall effect 3.22). These results suggest that higher plasma BNP levels are associated with a greater risk of AF recurrence. BNP levels may predict AF recurrence after successful electrical cardioversion.
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Tang et al. (2011) studied this question.
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