Serum uric acid (SUA) is a simple and independent marker of morbidity and mortality in a variety of cardiovascular diseases.

In this study we aimed to examine the relationship between serum uric acid levels and clinical, biological and echocardiographic characterstics in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

One hundred and seventy patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation were included (mean age: 66.3±8.5 years; 37% male patients). Hyperuricemia was defined as SUA ≥360μmol/L in women and ≥446μmol/L in men determined determined according to receiver operating characteristic curve. Clinical, biological and echocardiographic characterestics were compared in patients with (n=51) and without hyperuricemia (n=119).

In AF patients, those with hyperuricemia had the most adverse biological risk profile including the highest rates of renal dysfunction (P<0.001) and the highest mean level of fibrinogen (P=0.033), c-reactive protein (P=0.05), calcemia (P=0.016) and leucocytosis (P=0.03). Patients with hyperuricemia showed also more enlarged left atrium (P=0.039) and lower left ventricle ejection fraction (P=0.01) and peak myocardial systolic velocity measured at the mitral annulus (Sa) in tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) (P=0.01)

High serum uric acid levels were associated with a low left ventricle contractile function, enlargement of left atrium, inflammatory biological profile and could provide additional prognostic information on future thromboembolic events in patients with AF.