ArticleBMC cardiovascular disorders2026
The potential value of serum neuron-specific enolase in screening for silent cerebral infarction following radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.
Article in BMC cardiovascular disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundSilent cerebral infarction (SCI) is a frequent perioperative complication of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF), yet its detection currently relies on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a modality not routinely accessible for all patients. This preliminary study investigated whether neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a serum biomarker of neuronal injury, could serve as a practical screening tool for perioperative SCI following radiofrequency ablation for AF.
methodsThis exploratory study enrolled 97 patients undergoing first-time radiofrequency catheter ablation for AF. Based on MRI performed 24-48 h post-procedure, patients were classified into the SCI and non-SCI groups. Serum NSE levels were measured before ablation (NSE
resultsAmong the 97 patients (63 paroxysmal AF, 34 persistent AF), SCI was detected in 15 patients (15.5%). In the overall cohort, serum NSE levels increased significantly immediately after ablation compared with baseline and remained elevated at 24 h post-procedure (both P < 0.001). NSE
conclusionSerum NSE exhibits high sensitivity for detecting SCI following AF ablation, suggesting its potential as a post-procedural screening tool to help identify patients who may benefit from confirmatory MRI, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Given the exploratory nature of this study and its methodological limitations, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and warrant validation in larger, well-designed prospective cohorts.
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