No clear benefit was observed for AF recurrence at 2 - 3 days , 1 or 24 months of follow-up .
Steroid use was associated with decreased risk of early AF recurrence 3 and 12 - 14 months after ablation .
Previous studies have reported that steroids may reduce the risk of  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) recurrence after catheter ablation , but data regarding this issue have been controversial .
Therefore , we conducted a meta- analysis of r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) and observational studies to ascertain the association of steroids and  AF recurrence  after ablation .
Protracted CRP elevation after atrial fibrillation ablation.
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) has been linked to an inflammatory process detected through various biomarkers , including C-Reactive Protein ( CRP ) . Early recurrence of AF within the first 3 months after curative AF ablation is not felt to reflect success or failure of the procedure . We hypothesized that this early recurrence is due to an inflammatory response to the ablation itself . We therefore sought to evaluate levels of CRP after AF ablation . METHODS We prospect ively enrolled subjects undergoing AF ablation . A control group of patients undergoing ablation for supraventricular tachycardia ( SVT ) was also enrolled . Each patient had CRP drawn on the day of the procedure ( prior to ablation ) and during their first follow-up ( median 49 days , interquartile range [ IQR ] 37 - 93 ) and second follow-up ( median 147 days , IQR 141 - 257 ) clinic visits . Patient interviews were performed and medical histories review ed for evidence of recurrent AF prior to the first follow-up . RESULTS CRP levels significantly increased from baseline to first follow-up in the AF ablation group ( P = 0.0017 ) . CRP did not significantly change after SVT ablation ( P = 0.92 ) . Seventeen ( 45 % ) of the AF subjects exhibited recurrence of AF prior to first follow-up . After adjusting for multiple potential confounders , AF ablation patients with recurrent AF prior to their first follow-up had a statistically significant greater odds of having an increase in CRP ( OR 21 , 95 % CI 1.1 - 417 , P = 0.045 ) . CONCLUSIONS AF ablation generates an inflammatory response that persists for several weeks . This inflammation may explain early recurrence of AF after curative ablation
No clear benefit was observed for AF recurrence at 2 - 3 days , 1 or 24 months of follow-up .
Steroid use was associated with decreased risk of early AF recurrence 3 and 12 - 14 months after ablation .
Previous studies have reported that steroids may reduce the risk of  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) recurrence after catheter ablation , but data regarding this issue have been controversial .
Therefore , we conducted a meta- analysis of r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) and observational studies to ascertain the association of steroids and  AF recurrence  after ablation .