PLoS ONE (Jan 2016)
The Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE) Is Associated with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.
Abstract
Upregulation of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has been proposed as a pathophysiological mechanism underlying the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to investigate if soluble RAGE levels are associated with AF in Caucasian patients.Patients (n = 587) were prospectively recruited and serum levels of soluble RAGE (sRAGE) and endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) measured. The patients included 527 with sinus rhythm, 32 with persistent AF (duration >7 days, n = 32) and 28 with paroxysmal AF (duration <7 days, n = 28).Patients with AF were older and had a greater prevalence of heart failure than patients in sinus rhythm. Circulating RAGE levels were higher in patients with persistent AF [median sRAGE 1190 (724-2041) pg/ml and median esRAGE 452 (288-932) pg/ml] compared with paroxysmal AF [sRAGE 799 (583-1033) pg/ml and esRAGE 279 (201-433) pg/ml, p ≤ 0.01] or sinus rhythm [sRAGE 782 (576-1039) pg/ml and esRAGE 289 (192-412) pg/ml, p < 0.001]. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, independent predictors of persistent AF were age, heart failure, sRAGE [odds ratio 1.1 per 100 pg/ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.1, p = 0.001] and esRAGE [odds ratio 1.3 per 100 pg/ml, 95% CI 1.1-1.4, p < 0.001]. Heart failure and age were the only independent predictors of paroxysmal AF. In AF patients, sRAGE [odds ratio 1.1 per 100 pg/ml, 95% CI 1.1-1.2, p = 0.007] and esRAGE [odds ratio 1.3 per 100 pg/ml, 95% CI 1.0-1.5, p = 0.017] independently predicted persistent compared with paroxysmal AF.Soluble RAGE is elevated in Caucasian patients with AF, and both sRAGE and esRAGE predict the presence of persistent AF.