Left ventricular remodeling in atrial fibrillation is associated with elevated NAP-2 and 3-nitrotyrosine

Atrial fibrillation (AF) coexists with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and remodeling. Neutrophil infiltration of cardiac muscle tissue and oxidative stress are associated with cardiac remodeling. In 221 AF patients aged 70 (62–76) years, LV remodeling was assessed using echocardiography. Plasma concentrations of neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2) and 3-nitrotyrosine were measured. AF patients with concentric and eccentric hypertrophy showed higher NAP-2 levels than those with normal LV geometry (+41% and + 29%, <i>p</i> = 0.001 and <i>p</i> = 0.025, respectively). Moreover, concentric hypertrophy was associated with 85% higher 3-nitrotyrosine level (<i>p</i> = 0.01) compared to normal LV geometry. Elevated NAP-2, associated with oxidative damage, may contribute to the development of LV hypertrophy.