RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Early atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences are common and have been shown to predict AF recurrences late after AF ablation during follow-up. Neiguan point acupuncture has been recognized to be therapeutic in treating AF in clinical practice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-five patients were enrolled in succession due to persistent AF. All patients were randomized divided into control group and acupuncture group. In the control group (n = 45), amiodarone was orally taken from the first day after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). In the acupuncture group (n = 40), patients were treated with Neiguan point acupuncture for 7 days and amiodarone was prescribed as same as the control group after PVI. The levels of inflammatory factors were analyzed before operation, 1 week after the operation and 3 months later. After 3 months, the acupuncture group had a lower rate of early recurrences than the control group (5/40 [12.5%] vs 15/45 [33.3%], P = 0.039). The inflammatory factors level in the two groups were significantly increased after ablation. However, compared with the control group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, TGF-ß1, MMP2 in the acupuncture group significantly lower (P < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, acupuncture was an independent factor associated with a lower rate of early recurrences during the blanking period (odds ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.63; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Neiguan point acupuncture combined with amiodarone is superior to amiodarone alone in reducing early recurrences of patients with persistent AF after PVI. The efficacy of Neiguan acupuncture therapy on the early recurrence is associated with the decreased inflammation factors.