Immune and endothelial changes in post-covid af and heart failure severity
O V Stasyshena, O S Sychov, T V Getman, O V SribnaAbstract
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently complicates heart failure (HF). COVID-19 may exacerbate immune-inflammatory responses and endothelial dysfunction, potentially contributing to AF progression and worsening HF.
Purpose
To evaluate peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations in AF patients after COVID-19 and assess their association with HF severity.
Methods
A total of 165 patients (62.5 ± 0.9 years; 47% men) were studied. Among them, 116 AF patients post-COVID-19 were divided into three groups: new-onset AF (n = 36), AF progression (n = 25), and AF without form change (n = 55). The control group included 49 AF patients without a history of COVID-19. Lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed by flow cytometry; peripheral expression coefficient (PEC) was used to assess endothelial function.
Results
AF patients post-COVID-19 exhibited lower B1 cell (1.1 ± 0.16 vs 1.6 ± 0.1, p < 0.05) and B2 cell levels (7.4 ± 0.6 vs 8.9 ± 0.1, p < 0.05) and higher PEC (2.46 ± 0.35 vs 0.4 ± 0.01, p < 0.05) compared with controls. Changes in lymphocyte subsets and PEC significantly correlated with HF severity.
Conclusions
Post-COVID AF is associated with peripheral immune dysregulation and endothelial dysfunction, which correlate with HF severity. Lymphocyte subpopulations and PEC may serve as early biomarkers of HF progression in this population.