Systemic Inflammation and Arrhythmogenesis: A Review of Mechanistic and Clinical Perspectives

Abstract

In the recent decades, systemic inflammation, as a clinical phenomenon, has been the focus of extensive research particularly with regard to its potential association with a variety of cardiovascular diseases including atherogenesis and acute coronary syndromes. Within this context, there also exists a potential link between systemic inflammation and cardiac arrhythmogenesis in various aspects. Accordingly, systemic inflammation response as measured with inflammation markers (cytokines, etc) has been investigated in the setting of well-known cardiac arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Based on current literature, clinical utility of these markers might potentially yield important prognostic implications in the setting of certain arrhythmogenic conditions. On the other hand, there exists limited data regarding therapeutic implications including clinical benefit of primary anti-inflammatory agents (corticosteroids, colchicine, etc) in the setting of arrhythmia management. The present review primarily aims to discuss potential triggers and fundamental mechanisms of inflammation-related arrhythmias along with a particular emphasis on clinical implications of systemic inflammation in the setting of cardiac arrhythmogenesis.