Inflammation, Epigenetics in CHF Patients With AF

Inflammatory Activation, Epigenetic Signature and Morpho-structural Alteration in a Cohort of Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Permanent Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation: a Cross-sectional Study

the goal of this case-control cross-sectional study is assessing in a cohort of patients with CHF and permanent AF

• The serum levels of some candidate cytokine variables and their relationship with some selected metabolic variables and some echocardiographic variables.
• the expression degree of some selected miRNA with a pathogenetic relation to atrial fibrillation and the related cardiac remodelling.
• to analyze the correlation between selected miRNA and the selected cytokines.

Inclusion Criteria

• ≥18 years
• Left ventricular ejection fraction >40%
• New York Heart Association class II-IV symptoms
• NT-proBNP ≥600 pg/mL, or ≥900 pg/mL if AF was present on baseline electrocardiography

Exclusion Criteria

- Other AF subtypes (paroxysmal, persistent, long-standing persistent)

At least one of the following criteria:

• Acute heart failure
• NYHA IV
• NT-proBNP >4000 pg/mL
• Significant valvular disease
• Mechanical prosthesis
• Cardiovascular implantable devices
• Active malignancy
• Inflammatory or infectious diseases
• Severe renal (eGFR <30 mL/min/m²) or hepatic failure
• Chronic steroid/anti-inflammatory therapy