Our previous study showed that HGF inhibited α‐SMA expression, transformed MFbs, and secreted type I collagen in human atrial fibroblasts.22 The results of our study confirmed that MFb CTGF mRNA and protein expression was significantly reduced in the HGF intervention group and that CTGF protein expression was positively correlated with LAD and AF duration in the RHD patients. This evidence concerns the gene ACTA1 and rheumatic heart disease.