Atrial fibrillation is a common condition that is crucial to diagnose and treat to reduce the risk of stroke and heart failure. One approach to alleviate symptoms of atrial fibrillation is to restore normal heart rhythm through electrical cardioversion. However, predicting the individual effectiveness and duration of this restored rhythm remains challenging, with studies indicating a recurrence rate as high as 50% within the first month. This unpredictability diminishes the perceived value of cardioversion.
Several studies have shown links between elevated inflammation levels, specific gene expressions in blood samples, and atrial fibrillation, suggesting that high inflammatory markers and certain gene expressions may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. Currently, these findings are not clinically applicable, as the markers studied have proven too unspecific. Our research group aims to explore alternative inflammatory markers and gene expressions that we hypothesize could be more specific and clinically relevant.
Several studies have shown links between elevated inflammation levels, specific gene expressions in blood samples, and atrial fibrillation, suggesting that high inflammatory markers and certain gene expressions may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. Currently, these findings are not clinically applicable, as the markers studied have proven too unspecific. Our research group aims to explore alternative inflammatory markers and gene expressions that we hypothesize could be more specific and clinically relevant.