AF Treatment Found to Benefit Kidneys

In the year following successful treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) by catheter ablation, kidney function improves in patients with mild to moderate renal dysfunction, Yoshihide Takahashi, MD, and colleagues reported in Circulation (2011;124:2380-2387).

Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among 386 study subjects was 68 mL/min/1.73m². Of these patients, 66% and 26% had an eGFR of 60-89 and 30-59, respectively.

Of the 278 patients (72%) who were arrhythymia-free over a one-year follow-up, eGFR had increased three months later and was maintained until one year, whereas eGFR had decreased over one in patients with recurrences.

From the January 01, 2012 Issue of Renal and Urology News