Markers of Oxidative Stress Present in Blood in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Atrial Fibrillation |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Cardiology / Vascular Diseases |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 11/30/-0001 |
| Start Date: | June 2005 |
| End Date: | June 2006 |
| Contact: | Jose R. Cuellar, Coordinator |
| Email: | jcuella@emory.edu |
| Phone: | 404-278-9774 |
Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart beat that starts in the upper parts of the heart
and can cause stroke or death, if untreated. In general, treatments are not very effective,
with frequent relapses of the abnormal heart beats. One explanation for the high relapse
rate is that the treatments might not address the underlying cause of atrial fibrillation.
Recently, the investigators have found that atrial fibrillation is associated with increased
oxidative stress. This is a condition where abnormal oxygen forms are produced. These
forms harm the cells of the heart, causing them to beat abnormally. The investigators have
found increased oxidative stress in pig and mouse models of atrial fibrillation. They would
like to see if oxidative stress is present in humans with atrial fibrillation. In this
study, they will compare blood markers of oxidative stress between patients with and without
atrial fibrillation. It is the expectation that participants with atrial fibrillation will
have more abnormal blood markers of atrial fibrillation. This study requires participants
to visit their doctors, undergo a history and physical examination, and give blood only
once.
Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart beat that starts in the upper parts of the heart
and can cause stroke or death, if untreated. In general, treatments are not very effective
with frequent relapses of the abnormal heart beats. One explanation for the high relapse
rate is that the treatments might not address the underlying cause of atrial fibrillation.
Recently, we have found that atrial fibrillation is associated with increased oxidative
stress in a particular part of the top parts of the heart, the left atrial appendage (LAA).
Oxidative stress is a condition where abnormal oxygen forms are produced. These forms harm
the cells of the heart, causing them to beat abnormally. Also, the inside of the heart
becomes sticky and more likely to form blood clots. These clots, when they travel to the
head, are thought to be the main cause of stroke in this condition. We have found increased
oxidative stress and increased evidence of blood clotting in pig and mouse models of atrial
fibrillation. We would like to see if these same findings are present in the human LAA.
In this study, we will compare blood and tissue markers of oxidative stress between patients
with and without atrial fibrillation who are scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery. It is
the expectation that participants with atrial fibrillation will have more abnormal markers
of atrial fibrillation. This study requires participants to be seen during their routine
preoperative visit, undergo a history and physical examination, give blood only once, and
allow use of their discarded LAA. This tissue is routinely removed at surgery because its
removal is thought to reduce the risk of stroke in patients who develop atrial fibrillation
after the surgery. This happens in up to 50% of patients, thus providing the desire to
remove the LAA.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Cases must have atrial fibrillation documented on electrocardiographic recordings at
the time of enrollment.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Atrial fibrillation
We found this trial at
2
sites
Click here to add this to my saved trials
Emory University Hospital As the largest health care system in Georgia and the only health...
Click here to add this to my saved trials