NEUTROPHIL TO LYMPHOCYTE RATIO PREDICTS PERMANENT PACEMAKER IMPLANTATION
IN TAVR PATIENTS
Abstract
Introduction. In this prospective multicenter analysis, we
aimed to investigate the predictive role of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio
(NLR) in permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) in patients undergoing
transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Material and
methods. 179 consecutive patients without previous PPI underwent TAVR
from February 2017 to September 2021. Patients were further divided
based on presence (n=48) and absence of conduction abnormalities (CAs)
at hospital admission (n=131). Results . In patients
with previous CAs, NLR values did not differ significantly between
patients requiring PPI (n=16, 33%) and those not requiring it. In
contrast, in patients with no CAs at hospital admission, NLR values
measured at admission and on TAVR day were significantly higher in
patients requiring PPI (n=17, 13%) (4.07±3.22 vs 3.01±1.47, p=0.025,
and 10.81±7.81 vs 5.84±3.78, p=0.000, respectively). Multivariable
analysis showed that NLR at TAVR day was an independent predictor of PPI
in patients without CAs (OR 1.294; 95% CI 1.028-1.630; p=0.028), but
not in those with previous CAs. ROC curve analysis showed that the cut
point was a NLR value of >7.25. Time to PPI was delayed
till 21 days in patients without CAs. Conclusions. In this
prospective study, higher NLR values on the day of TAVR day were
associated with an increased PPI rate in patients undergoing TAVR with
no previous CAs. It is advisable, being inflammation part of the
process, to prolong the time of observation for all patients without CAs
till at least 21 days not to miss any new CA necessitating PPI.