Abstract
Aims: This prospective cohort study was aimed at evaluating the association of galectin-3 (Gal-3) and other prognostic factors with atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in patients with nonvalvular AF undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods and Results: Overall, 92 patients were included, with the AF group comprising 70 patients and the control group comprising 20 (supraventricular tachycardic) patients. Preablation parameters were recorded, including baseline Gal-3 levels. Patients were followed up for 6 months post-RFCA. AF recurrence was defined as AF episodes lasting > 30 s after the blanking period. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed patients with AF were older and significantly hypertensive (p < 0.05) when compared to control. Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in the paAF (13.81 ± 2.56) and peAF (15.92 ± 3.67) groups than in the control group (12.04 ± 3.28). Recurrence occurred in 28 patients (40%) with AF. Baseline Gal-3 levels were higher in the recurrence group than in the nonrecurrence group. Univariate analysis revealed left atrial diameter (LAD), left atrial volume (LAV), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), Gal-3, and LV short-axis shortening rate as significant predictors of AF recurrence. However, multivariate analyses showed only LAV (OR = 1.043 [1.011-1.077]; p = 0.009), hs-CRP (OR = 1.176 [1.025-1.349], p = 0.021), and Gal-3 (OR = 2.019 [1.332-3.06], p = 0.001) as independent predictors of recurrence. Conclusion: Elevated Gal-3 and hs-CRP levels along with increased LAV are predictive of AF recurrence, irrespective of AF type. This finding holds a significant potential for guiding therapeutic strategies in clinical practice.