Our previous study reveals a novel mechanism, by which cells overexpressing hi-FGF2 can induce mitochondria-associated apoptosis which is closely associated with HF [15].The level of hi-FGF2 can serve as a prognostic biomarker to predict the occurrence of HF in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) [15, 16]. The gene discussed is FGF2; the disease is hydrops fetalis.