Aim To investigate the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） and periostin in right atrial appendage （RAA） in patients with different types of atrial fibrillation （AF） and its assosiation with atrial fibrosis levels and the recurrence of AF after surgery ablation. Methods A total of 60 patients with valvular heart diseases （VHD） undergoing valve replacement surgery and 10 healthy heart donors were enrolled in this study. Among these patients with valvular heart diseases, 33 patients combined with atrial fibrillation underwent radiofrequency ablation during surgery operation and were followed up for one year. The 60 patients were divided into three groups: sinus rhythm group （SR, n＝20）, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation group （PaAF, n＝15） and persistent atrial fibrillation group （PeAF, n＝25）. 10 healthy heart donors were selected as control group （n＝10）. The protein levels of atrial TGF-β and periostin were measured by Western blot. The degree of atrial fibrosis were evaluated by immunohistochemistry technique. Results The expression of TGF-β as well as periostin was significantly higher in the PeAF group compared to the SR group and control group （both P<0.01）. Periostin level in patients with atrial fibrillation was positively correlated with left atrial diameter （LAD） and pulmonary artery systolic pressure （PASP） （r＝0.53, P<0.01 and r＝0.27, P<0.05 respectively） and was negatively correlated with ejection fraction （EF） （r＝－0.44, P<0.01）. Collagen volume fraction （CVF） and hydroxyproline （Hyp） content in RAAs were both ascended significantly and gradually in the control, SR, PaAF and PeAF groups （P<0.05）, and was significantly correlated with the expression of TGF-β and periostin （P<0.01）. The expression of TGF-β was significantly higher in recurrence group than that in nonrecurrence group after surgery ablation （P＝0.023）. Conclusion Upregulated expression of TGF-β and periostin in RAAs is closely correlated with the degree of atrial fibrosis and recurrence after surgery ablation in patients with AF.