Βeta-adrenergic receptor reactivity of erythrocyte membranes in patients with left or right atrial dilatation against the background of atrial fibrillation

Hyperactivation of the sympathoadrenal system (SAS) leads to desensitization of β1-adrenergic receptors (β1-AR). This contributes to aggravation of myocardial contractile dysfunction and development of arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AF). An indirect indicator of the viability of β1-AR is β-adrenergic receptor reactivity of erythrocyte membranes (β-ARM). Aim. To evaluate β-ARM in patients with different forms of AF, including left (LAD) or right (RAD) atrial dilation. Materials and methods. The sample included 38 patients, 65.8% of whom had paroxysmal AF, 21% had persistent AF, and 13.2% had long-standing persistent AF. All patients received surgical treatment for AF by radiofrequency ablation or cryoablation. LAD was detected in 39.4% of patients, RAD – in 34.2% of patients. Βeta-ARM was determined before treatment, as well as at 3 days and at 12 months after ablation. Results. The groups of patients with different forms of AF, as well as patients with LAD / RAD and without it showed comparable values of β-ARM at different measurement periods. In the group of patients without LAD / RAD, β-ARM increased 3 days after ablation compared to β-ARM before the treatment (p = 0.002 / p = 0.004) and returned to the pre-treatment level after 3 months. At the same time, in the group of patients with LAD / RAD, β-ARM did not significantly change before the ablation and in different periods after it. Conclusion. In patients with AF without LAD / RAD, we detected an increase in β-ARM 3 days after the ablation compared to the level before the treatment and a decrease in the intensity of SAS 3 months after the surgery. In the presence of LAD / RAD, no changes in the β-ARM were revealed.