Chitinase-3-like protein-1 (YKL-40) before and after therapy in supraventricular arrhythmias

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Biomarker Discovery
• Inflammatory Diseases

Background:

• Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) is an inflammatory glycoprotein implicated as a potential biomarker for cardiovascular diseases.
• Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a prevalent cardiovascular condition where YKL-40's role requires further investigation.
• This study aims to evaluate YKL-40 in various supraventricular arrhythmias beyond AFib, comparing it with established inflammatory markers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess serum YKL-40 levels in patients with AFib, atrial flutter, atrioventricular node reentry tachycardia, and other supraventricular tachycardias.
• To compare YKL-40 levels with C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 in these patient groups.
• To determine the association of YKL-40 with arrhythmia recurrence post-therapy.

Main Methods:

• Serum YKL-40, CRP, and IL-6 levels were measured in 70 patients with supraventricular arrhythmias and 20 healthy controls.
• Measurements were taken before, immediately after, and one week after therapy.
• Patients were followed for 6 months to monitor arrhythmia recurrence.

Main Results:

• Baseline YKL-40 was significantly elevated in AFib patients compared to controls (P < 0.001) but not in other arrhythmias.
• YKL-40 levels positively correlated with left atrial volume index (rho = 0.853, P < 0.001).
• YKL-40 levels decreased significantly one week post-treatment in AFib patients (P = 0.009), while CRP and IL-6 remained stable. Baseline YKL-40 independently predicted AFib recurrence (aOR = 1.02, P = 0.016).

Conclusions:

• Serum YKL-40 is specifically elevated in AFib, distinguishing it from other supraventricular arrhythmias.
• YKL-40 levels in AFib are responsive to therapeutic interventions.
• YKL-40 serves as a valuable predictor of long-term AFib recurrence.