Objectives To investigate the possible role of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods This study group included 70 consecutive patients scheduled for elective off-pump CABG.The patients with ejection fraction (EF) less than 0.30,history of AF,use of class Ⅰor Ⅲ antiarrhythmic drug,implanted pacemaker,postoperative myocardial infarction or chest reopening for pericardial tamponade were excluded.Preoperative and postoperative serum NT-proBNP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay technique.Results Postoperative AF occurred in 15 patients (21.4%);these patients had significantly higher median NT-proBNP levels when compared with those without AF after the operation (P＜0.01).Using multivariate logistic regression analyses,an increase in NT-proBNP level after CABG was found to be independently associated with AF (OR=3.78,95% IC=1.81～4.89,P＜0.01 ).Increased age,diabetes mellitus,preoperative use of β-blocker,proximal right coronary artery involvement,and longer operation time were also associated with AF.Conclusions These results indicated that AF was associated with higher NT-proBNP concentrations after off pump CABG;the increase in NT-proBNP after CABG may play an important role in the occurrence of AF after the operation.The further studies are needed to define the reason that lead to higher NT-proBNP concentrations among the patients who present AF after off pump CABG.