Atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute congestive heart failure (aCHF) are characterized by an adverse cardiac remodeling. Arrhythmogenic or structural remodeling can be caused by interstitial fibrosis. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) represents a central regulator of cardiac fibrosis. This study investigates serum levels of TGF-beta 1 in patients with AF and aCHF.
First Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, Mannheim, Germany. michael.behnes@umm.de