Atrial Fibrillation: Biomarkers Determining Prognosis

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia known to incite increased thromboembolic and mortality risks, especially among patients not under anticoagulant therapy when indicated. Several routine scores exist to help stratify AF patients, such as the CHAD2DS2-VASc score and upon which physicians are based to decide whether to administer anticoagulant therapy. Being that anticoagulant regimen is a double-edged situation with both benefits and risks, decision-making process demands a definite and reliable, evidence-based set of data to rely on. Blood-based biological elements known as biomarkers are measurable indices that can provide crucial insights concerning not only underlying disease mechanisms but also prognostic and risk stratifying information. As AF is constituted by an overwhelming range of pathophysiological aspects such as inflammation, fibrosis, hypercoagulable states and myocardial damage, identifying and assessing relevant biomarkers will evidently support the clinician's prognostication efforts. The current reviewpresents studied biomarkers with proven prognostic potential in AF as well as possible enhancement of risk-scores when incorporated to them.