The contribution of implantable cardioverter defibrillators to systemic inflammation in heart failure patients

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is associated with an increased ‘inflammatory burden’, which is manifested by the elevation of serum levels of some inflammatory mediators such C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines. In addition, high levels of inflammatory markers in patients with HF have been associated with poor outcomes. Lethal ventricular arrhythmias such as asystole and ventricular fibrillation-tachycardia are common in patients with HF and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are effective in preventing these situations. But like every foreign object in the body, ICDs also cause fibrosis and inflammation. This study aimed to show additional contribution of ICDs to systemic inflammation in patients with HF. This is a single centrer retrospective study included 140 HF patients with and without ICD (group 1 and 2) and 53 healty control subjects (group 3). Three groups were compared with regard to Hs-CRP and Neutrophil / Lymphocyte ratio (NL ratio). In order that acute inflammation did not affect the results, the earliest 6th month laboratory measures after ICD implantation were recorded. There are not significant difference between all groups in terms of age and gender, and among group 1 and 2 in terms of disease history, ejection fraction, heart rate and creatinine. When compared to the three groups according to Hs-CRP and NL ratio, there was a significant difference between the groups (both p