Objective    To explore the alterations and clinical significances of serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)

high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP)

MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) in patients with atrial fibrillation.      Methods    To

tally 72 patients

including 32 with atrial fibrillation and 40 with sinus rhythm according to ECG were enrolled. The 2 groups were respectively further divided into 3 subgroups (NYHA class  Ⅱ

NYHA class Ⅲ and NYHA class  Ⅲ) according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function grading. Serum BNP

hsCRP

CK-MB levels in all patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

immunoturbidimetric method and enzyme rate assay.     Results    The serum levels of BNP and hsCRP in atrial fibrillation group were significantly higher than those in sinus rhythm group (

P

<

0.05)

the difference was even more significant among those from the same NYHA class subgroup (

P

<

0.01). In both atrial fibrillation group and sinus rhythm group

the serum levels of BNP and hsCRP were increased significantly in sequence with the NYHA class (

P

<

0.01). There was no significant difference in serum CK-MB level either between atrial fibrillation group and sinus rhythm group

or in their subgroups (

P

>0.05). No correlation was found in the serum levels of BNP

hsCRP and CK-MB levels in atrial fibrillation group (

P

>0.05).     Conclusion    BNP and hsCRP may be involved in the occurrence and sustainment of atrial fibrillation. The serum levels of BNP and hsCRP may serve as independent indexes of atrial fibrillation. CK-MB may be not involved in the incidence and development of atrial fibrillation.