Markers of myocardial damage, tissue healing, and inflammation after radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial tachyarrhythmias.
BACKGROUND
Radiofrequency ablation produces a localized endomyocardial necrosis that may result in release of biochemical markers reflecting myocardial cell damage, inflammation, and tissue reparation. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of rise and time course of markers of inflammation and tissue reparation in patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation.


RESULTS
Serial blood samples were taken from patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (n = 5), Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (n = 3), and atrial flutter (n = 5) undergoing radiofrequency ablation. Blood was taken before ablation (day 0, baseline) and at day 1 and day 120 after ablation. The proinflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6), troponin I (TNI), and myoglobin, as well as matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a marker for myocardial healing, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of IL-6, TNI, myoglobin, and MMP-9 were significantly elevated on day 1 after ablation compared to baseline levels. Seven of the 13 patients had troponin levels greater than the threshold of significant myocardial damage (>0.1 ng/mL) on day 1. Plasma levels of MMP-9 were still elevated on day 120 compared to values before ablation (P = 0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
Markers of inflammation, wound healing, and myocardial damage are increased in patients who undergo radiofrequency ablation. Levels of MMP-9, a marker for myocardial healing and repair, are still elevated 120 days after the procedure, suggesting that radiofrequency ablation induces tissue damage leading to a long-term process of reparation.
Brueckmann
Martina
M
1st Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. martina.brueckmann@med.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Wolpert
Christian
C
Bertsch
Thomas
T
Sueselbeck
Tim
T
Liebetrau
Claudia
C
Kaden
Jens J
JJ
Huhle
Guenter
G
Neumaier
Michael
M
Borggrefe
Martin
M
Haase
Karl K
KK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000097:blood; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009211:Myoglobin; D019210:Troponin I; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9