Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs frequently after cardiac surgery and contributes significantly to mortality. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is associated with postoperative AF after coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery. We performed a prospective study to evaluate the role of TGF-β as a predictor of AF after myectomy. A total of 109 consecutive obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients without previous AF who underwent myectomy were identified. We measured plasma TGF-β levels before surgery, monitored heart rhythm until discharge, and followed patients for a mean of 36 ± 10 months. AF was documented in 19 patients (17%). AF patients were older (50 ± 10 vs 43 ± 15 years, p = 0.037). Patients who developed AF had higher plasma TGF-β levels (1,695 ± 2,011 vs 1,099 ± 2,494 pg/ml, p = 0.011), more major adverse cardiac events (32% vs 7%, p = 0.006), and more strokes (16% vs 0%, p = 0.005) than patients who did not. TGF-β level ≥358 pg/ml predicted AF with sensitivity and specificity of 58% and 77% (p = 0.011), respectively. Higher TGF-β levels were associated with pulmonary hypertension (25% vs 8%, p = 0.033). In multivariable regression analysis, age (odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.11, p = 0.041) and TGF-β levels (odds ratio 2.42, 95% confidence interval 1.30 to 4.50, p = 0.005) predicted AF independently. In conclusion, elevated preoperative TGF-β value is an independent predictor of postoperative AF in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients after surgical ventricular septal myectomy.
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