A novel microRNA differentially expressed in patients with persistent and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the general population. The estimated prevalence of this arrhythmia in adults ranges from 2% to 4%.1 AF is one of the leading causes of stroke, heart failure, other thromboembolic complications, and sudden death. On the basis of the duration of an arrhythmia episode, AF is classified as first-diagnosed, paroxysmal, persistent, long-standing persistent, or permanent.2 In recent years, there has been a growing body of evidence that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in AF development and progression.3 Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies made it possible to identify and evaluate putative novel miRNAs associated with this arrhythmia. Hence, the main goal of this study was to identify novel circulating serum miRNAs that can differentiate between paroxysmal and persistent AF, and may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers.