Increased Circulating Fetuin-A Levels in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most prevalent arrhythmias in the world and the main cause of cardiac-related morbidity and mortality. 1 Its frequency increases with age. AF development in chronic cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, and heart failure, worsens the clinical disease and is an important cause of hospitalization due to arrhythmia. Although it is associated with many conditions, there is no specific cause of AF. In approximately ten percent of all AF cases, no underlying heart problem is found. AF, in these cases, may be associated with other factors, such as excessive caffeine use, stress, alcohol or certain drugs, as well as electrolyte or metabolic imbalances 2,3 However, in some cases of AF, no cause can be found.The relationship between inflammation, calcification, aging, and AF is a well-known theme and has been reported in previous studies. 3,4 Fetuin-A was first discovered in fetal serum, excreted by many different kinds of tissues, such as adipose tissue, placenta, and tongue, but primarily generated and secreted by the liver. Fetuin-A participates in many functions in human growth and development, the pathophysiology of inflammation and calcification, and in the course of many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and kidney disease. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Because of the opposing