Exploring Inflammatory Markers and Risk Factors Associated with Pericarditis Development after Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

This study aimed to explore the association between inflammatory markers and the occurrence of post-atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation pericarditis (PAP), while also examining the PAP's incidence and contributing factors. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2021 and November 2023, including patients who underwent successful AF ablation. Inflammatory markers of interest included the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Among the 231 patients examined, 22 (9.52%) were classified as suspected PAP, and 14 (6.06%) as definitive PAP. The median age was 58 years, with no age difference between groups. Males comprised 51.52% of the sample, with male sex frequency significantly higher in the suspected PAP group relative to the other groups ( = 0.007). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that AF duration ( = 0.026) and cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation ( = 0.001) were associated with definitive PAP, whereas analysis for any pericarditis (suspected or definitive PAP) revealed independent relationships with CTI ablation ( = 0.003) and sleep apnea ( = 0.008). SII, NLR, and PLR were not associated with PAP. Prolonged AF duration, CTI ablation, and sleep apnea are risk factors for PAP. The inflammatory markers (SII, NLR, and PLR) showed no association, warranting further investigation into other markers.