Atrial fibrillation (AF) renders individual patients at risk for development of an atrial thrombus. The aim of this study was to determine clinical and echocardiographic factors influencing the risk of left atrial thrombosis (LAT) in patients with persistent nonvalvular AF. Genetic variants encoding haemostatic factors have been also assessed for putative association with LAT. In the cross-sectional study, a total of 212 patients (132 males and 80 females) with nonvalvular persistent AF (duration range 48 h-90 days) have been selected. LAT was visualized by transesophageal echocardiography. The FGB G(-455)A, PAI-1 4G/5G, F5 C(-224)T, and F5 R506Q genetic markers were tested using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) approach. To reveal independent factors contributing to the thromboembolic risk in AF, a multivariate logistic model was applied. LA thrombi were found in 44 out of 212 subjects (21%). LAT was more frequently observed in patients at age >75 years (P < 0.001) and those who had reduced left ventricular ejection fraction <40% (LVEF; P < 0.001) and decreased left atrial appendage velocity <20 cm/s (LAAV; P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (OR = 1.64 per decade P < 0.001), LVEF < 40% (OR = 2.12, P < 0.001), LAAV (OR = 1.56, P = 0.007), and TT genotype of F5 C(-224)T (OR = 2.42, P = 0.041) are associated with higher risk of LAT. Age >75 years, LVEF < 40%, LAAV < 20 cm/s, and Factor V C(-224)T variant independently contribute to the thromboembolic risk in AF.

Betaxolol is a selective antagonist of beta(1)-adrenergic receptors. Personal response to the drug widely varies and depends on its properties and individual features including innate characteristics. Our aim was to study the association between the clinical response to betaxolol in patients with essential hypertension (EH) and polymorphous markers of two genes: beta(1) adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB1) and cytochrome P450 2D6 gene (CYP2D6). Eighty-one patients with EH were selected. Mean age was 52.2 +/- 1.22 years. Betaxolol monotherapy provided effective blood pressure control (BP < 140/90 mmHg) in 68 patients, 56 of them continued treatment with initial dose. The systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure declined significantly at the end of the study. We have not found any significant association of rest and exercise BP and heart rate (HR) with polymorphous marker Arg389Gly of ADRB1 gene except the nighttime variability of DBP. But in case of the polymorphous marker Pro34Ser of CYP2D6 gene we have found significant association with response to betaxolol therapy. The rest HR declined more significantly in Ser/Pro genotype carriers (-32.6 +/- 4.77 beats/min and -18.4 +/- 2.01 beats/min, P = 0.023). These patients demonstrated more significant increase of exercise time (4.58 +/- 0.90 and 0.59 +/- 0.58 min, P = 0.045). Maximal exercise HR and DBP were also significantly lower in Ser/Pro genotype carriers in comparison with Ser/Ser genotype carriers. Decline of mean daytime SBP in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was more significant in Pro allele carriers (-21.0 +/- 2.55 mmHg vs. -5.2 +/- 2.27 mmHg in patients with Ser/Ser genotype, P = 0.001). Betaxolol effect on HR and BP significantly depends on variability of the gene determining the drug metabolism. The carriers of Pro34 allele of CYP2D6 gene (8.6%) are more sensitive to betaxolol therapy. Because of the relatively small group sizes our data should be considered as preliminary ones. The increase of our groups and the replication in other studies will permit to estimate the contribution of genetic factors to betaxolol effect on HR and BP.