INFLA-score: A new diagnostic paradigm to identify pericarditis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Inflammation markers
• Diagnostic accuracy

Background:

• Pericarditis diagnosis can be challenging due to unmet conventional criteria, leading to delayed treatment and increased recurrence risk.
• C-reactive protein (CRP) is a common inflammation marker but has limitations in diagnosing pericarditis.
• The INFLA-score, a validated index for low-grade inflammation, was assessed for its diagnostic and prognostic utility in pericarditis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usefulness of the INFLA-score in the definitive diagnosis of pericarditis.
• To assess the prognostic value of the INFLA-score regarding pericarditis recurrence.
• To compare the INFLA-score's performance against conventional diagnostic criteria and CRP levels.

Main Methods:

• Patients with suspected pericarditis were enrolled.
• The INFLA-score was calculated using white blood cells, platelet count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and CRP.
• Primary endpoint: association of INFLA-score with diagnosis; Secondary endpoint: pericarditis recurrence at 6 months.

Main Results:

• The INFLA-score demonstrated higher diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.82) for pericarditis compared to CRP.
• An INFLA-score > 0 showed 86% sensitivity and 64% specificity for pericarditis diagnosis.
• Positive INFLA-score was significantly associated with a higher risk of pericarditis recurrence (rate ratio 4.15).

Conclusions:

• The INFLA-score serves as a valuable tool for diagnosing pericarditis.
• The INFLA-score possesses strong prognostic value for predicting recurrent pericarditis.
• The INFLA-score outperforms CRP in diagnosing pericarditis and assessing recurrence risk.