Methods
A total of 73 individuals (59 men, 14 women) undergoing DC cardioversion
of an atrial arrhythmia agreed to participate in this study. Inclusion
criteria included subjects older 18 who were undergoing DC cardioversion
for an atrial arrhythmia. This included elective and non-elective
admissions. Exclusion criteria included an MI or CABG within the past
month, cardioversion for a ventricular arrhythmia, or any recent shocks
by an implantable internal cardioverter defibrillator. Patients
underwent standard procedure for DC cardioversion with blood work
(troponin I and CRP) performed prior to and six hours post
cardioversion. Primary outcome was change in troponin I. Secondary
outcomes included changes in CRP, relationships between troponin I and
cumulative energy and LVM, and a sub-group analysis stratified by the
presence of cardiomyopathy.