Relation Between Pulmonary Vein Firing and Extent of Left Atrial–Pulmonary Vein Connection in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract
Background— Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are implicated in cardiovascular disease. Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. We assessed whether GH replacement, in GH-deficient adults, has any effect on plasma levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), known to activate MMPs.