5%) patients without septic shock did new-onset AF occur. Thus, new-onset AF was much more frequent in patients with septic shock than in those without septic shock (46% versus 4.5%; P < 0.001).A comparison selleckchem of septic shock patients with maintained SR versus those with new-onset AF is given in Tables Tables11 and and22 (P2-value). Septic shock patients with new-onset AF were older (P < 0.01) and more frequently suffered from arterial hypertension (P = 0.02).Table 1Patient characteristicsTable 2Severity of illness scores, laboratory tests and use of catecholamines during ICU staySeptic shock patients with new-onset AF demonstrated a significantly higher maximal SOFA score during the ICU stay compared with septic shock patients with maintained SR (P = 0.

01), although the SAPS II score at ICU admission was not significantly different (Table (Table2).2). Doses of noradrenaline and frequencies of dobutamine use did not significantly differ between septic shock patients with new-onset AF versus those with maintained SR (Table (Table2).2). Serum electrolyte levels did not reveal apparent disturbances when new-onset AF occurred (Table (Table22).Inflammation parameters before and after onset of AFCRP plasma levels over time are shown for AF patients with septic shock and AF patients without septic shock in Figures Figures1a1a and and1b.1b. Both groups demonstrated high median CRP plasma levels when new-onset AF occurred (242 versus 165 mg/dl). AF patients with septic shock revealed a continuous increase in CRP plasma levels before occurrence of AF (Figure (Figure1a).1a).

Maximal CRP plasma levels observed during ICU stay did not differ between septic shock patients with new-onset AF and those who maintained SR (Table (Table22).Figure 1Time course of CRP plasma concentrations before, during and after onset of new AF. (a) Patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and septic shock. (b) Patients with new-onset AF without septic shock. The median, interquartile range (box), minimum …Also, the maximum daily temperature revealed a slight increase up to the first day after new-onset AF, whereas the number of leucocytes demonstrated a slight decrease, but these changes were statistically not significant (data not shown).OutcomeICU mortality rate in septic shock patients with new-onset AF was 10 out of 23, compared with 6 out of 27 in septic shock patients who maintained SR.

This difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.14). Mortality rate in AF patients without septic shock was 4 out of 26 (Table (Table33 and Figure Figure22).Table 3Patients outcomeFigure Brefeldin_A 2ICU mortality. AF, atrial fibrillation; SR, sinus rhythm.Mortality rates at 28 and 60 days after ICU admission are given in Table Table3.3. The Kaplan-Meier curves, calculated on the basis of a two-year follow-up, are shown in Figure Figure3.3.