Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International Medical Journal, cilt.20, sa.5, ss.630-632, 2013 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Objective: Cortisol is a steroid hormone secreted in response to stress and play active role in catecholamine synthesis. Catecholamines may cause arrhythmia by effecting the conduction system of the heart. One study reported lower incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with post-operative steroid administration with respect to control group. Study also indicated AF development in four patients who received pulse steroid treatment. The aim of this study is to determine whether the serum cortisol levels are different in AF patients in comparison with the control group. Material and Method: One hundred thirty-eight subjects (69 patients, 69 control), who were admitted to emergency service of the university hospital, were enrolled in this matched case-control study. Serum free cortisol levels of AF patients, aged 18 or over, were compared with that of the control group. Results: The mean age of 138 patients was 71 ± 12, 82 of which were women (59.4%). Mean serum cortisol levels were 25.1 ± 20.1 mg/dL in the AF group and 21.4 ± 14.0 mg/dL in the control group (p = 0.214). There was no difference between two groups when serum cortisol levels were classified as normal and high according to diurnal rhythm (p = 0.609). Serum cortisol levels were determined as 31.4 ± 22.5 mg/dL in the paroxysmal AF group and 20.7 ± 17.3 mg/dL in the permanent AF group (p = 0.040) with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.436). Conclusion: Our study concluded that abnormality in serum cortisol levels with respect to diurnal rhythm is not related with AF etiology and permanence. However, elevated mean cortisol levels in paroxysmal AF patients suggested the need for a more comprehensive study with higher number of subjects. © 2013 Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation and Japan Health Sciences University.