Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a novel therapeutic option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who have been considered inoperable or high risk for conventional surgical aortic valve replacement. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of TAVI on neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR).
A total of 97 patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing TAVI in our clinic were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups based on valve type; patients with CoreValve bioprosthesis (n = 56) and patients with Edwards SAPIEN-XT bioprosthesis (n = 41). Blood samples were drawn before TAVI and were performed at 1 and 6 months after TAVI.
The patients in the Edwards SAPIEN group were older than the patients in the CoreValve group (76.7 ± 6.6 years, p = 0.019). Eurologistic score (p = 0.002), choronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.006), and pulmonary arterial pressure-systole (p = 0.001) were significantly higher in patients in the CoreValve group than those in the Edwards SAPIEN group. Aortic valve area had increased in both groups after the procedure (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). In addition, interventricular septal wall thickness, posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular mass index regressed in both groups at 6 month follow-up (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). When compared with the baseline NLR, a significant decrease was observed in the values at 1 and 6 months in both groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively).
A decrease in the NLR can be both a sign of regression of valvular inflammation and myocardial hypertrophy in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis after TAVI. Our results show that it may be used during the follow-up of patients with TAVI.