Frailty is associated with chronic inflammation and pro-inflammatory monocyte subpopulations.

Aim Of The Study: Frail patients with high grade aortic valve stenosis (AS) undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) have an increased mortality. A connection between frailty and inflammation has been suggested. Monocyte subpopulations are associated with both cardiovascular diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases.

Atrial fibrillation is associated with high levels of monocyte-platelet-aggregates and increased CD11b expression in patients with aortic stenosis.

A growing body of evidence suggests a pivotal role of inflammatory processes in AF in a bidirectional manner. Infiltrating leukocytes seem to promote both structural and electrical remodelling processes in patients with AF. Monocyte-platelets-aggregates (MPAs) are sensitive markers of both platelets and monocyte activation.