Additional diagnostic criteria for atrial cardiomyopathy in patients with lone atrial fibrillation

Aim. To determine additional diagnostic criteria for class I atrial cardiomyopathy (ACM) in patients with lone atrial fibrillation (AF).Material and methods. This cross sectional non-randomized clinical study included 170 stable patients 125 ng/ml) in patients with sinus rhythm. In all patients, the concentration of NT-proBNP, a soluble stimulating growth factor 2 (sST2), as well as creatinine and cystatin C with calculation of the glomerular filtration rate, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP1), and neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) was determined. Non-invasive angiography was performed.Results. According to ROC analysis, NT-proBNP, TIMP-1, NGAL as markers of class I ACM in patients with lone AF, showed unsatisfactory clinical significance. In patients with ACM and AF, regardless of the presence/ absence of HF, direct moderate relationship between sST2 and LAVI (r=0,470, p=0,012) and direct strong correlation between sST2 and NT-proBNP (r=0,726, p=0,004). Using ROC curve, for all available sST2 values, its diagnostic significance was obtained in the range from 5 to 16 ng/ml (AUC=0,98).Conclusion. The blood concentration of sST2 in the range from 5 to 16 ng/ml can be considered as an additional diagnostic criterion for class I ACM in patients with lone AF with a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 80%.