GDF-15 LEVEL CHANGES IN EARLY AND LATE PERIOD AFTER CATHETER ABLATION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD COMPETITION)

Introduction: GDF-15 (growth differentiation factor 15) is protein from transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) cytokine family. In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) GDF-15 is a potent marker of bleeding adverse events in anticoagulated patients and a predictor of overall mortality. Aim of the study was to describe how catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation affects GDF-15 levels in early and late period and analyse impact of used technology.

Methods: We enrolled 48 patients (median 62 (50; 68) years, 30 males) undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of AF who underwent 6 sequential blood takes (before RFCA – baseline, right after RFCA (0 hr), 24 and 48 hours after RFCA, 90 and 180 days after RFCA) to analyse GDF-15 level. In parallel, other conventional biomarkers were obtained: N-terminal fragment brain natriuretic factor (NT-proBNP) and high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (TnT). The results were compared to 22 patients (median 63 (52; 65) years, 13 males) treated with pulsed field ablation (PFA).

Results: The dynamics of GDF-15 levels is visualised in Figure. GDF-15 level peak was registered 48 hours after ablation with median (IQR) 1183 ng/l (824; 1988). After 90 days from ablation there still persisted higher GDF-15 levels in relation to input levels (p

Conclusion: Even though GDF-15 is considered as a nonspecific biomarker reflecting general condition of patient, the levels are significantly affected by interventional treatment of AF. PFA seems to cause higher elevation of TnT than RFA.