Evaluation of anterior pituitary hormone levels in patients with atrial fibrillation

Aim: The risk of ischemic stroke is increased 5-fold in patients with atrial fibrillation (the most common reason for cardiac arrhythmia). The aim is to investigate whether insufficiency in anterior pituitary hormones develops in patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and no history of cerebrovascular accident. Method: A group of 65 patients with chronic /paroxysmal atrial fibrillation without a history of cerebrovascular accident and a group of 65 healthy controls without arrhythmia were included in this study. Atrial fibrillation was diagnosed by electrocardiography or 24-hour rhythm holter. Demographic data, biochemical tests, echocardiography findings were compared between the groups. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was no statistical difference in gender and age distribution between groups (p<0.05). (Patient group: Mean age 68 ± 7 years (16 (24.6%) male and 49 (75.4%) female) / Control group: Mean age 67 ± 6 years (18 (27.7%) male and 47 (72.3%) female). Serum insulin-like growth factor-1, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group (p=0.048, p=0.005, p=0.023). There was no significant difference in serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin levels between groups. Left atrial diameter and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were higher in the patient group (p<0.0001). The left ventricular ejection fraction value was lower in the patient group (p<0.0001). Conclusion: It was thought that the reason for the low level of insulin-like growth factor-1 in the setting of normal liver and kidney functions and simultaneous cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency, in patients with atrial fibrillation with no history of cerebrovascular accident might be due to silent cerebral ischemia leading to pituitary dysfunction.