C-Reactive Protein in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy and Relationship with Ventricular Tachycardia

Background. The relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) elevation and ventricular tachycardia (VT) in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is unclear. Methods and Results. In 91 consecutive patients with either ARVD/C with or without VT (cases) or idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardia (controls), blood sampling were taken to determine CRP levels. In ARVD/C patients with VT, we analyzed the association between VT occurrences and CRP level. Sixty patients had ARVD/C, and 31 had idiopathic RVOT VT. Patients with ARVD/C had a significant higher level of CRP compared to those with RVOT VT (3.5 +/- 4.9 versus 1.1 +/- 1.2mg/l, P = .0004). In ARVD/C group, 77%, (n = 46) patients experienced VT. Of these, 37% (n = 17) underwent blood testing for CRP within 24 h after the onset of VT and the remaining 63% (n = 29) after 24 h of VT reduction. CRP level was similar in ARVD/C patients with or without documented VT (3.6 +/- 5.1mg/l versus 3.1 +/- 4.1mg/l, P = .372). However, in patients with ARVD/C and documented VT, CRP was significantly higher when measured within 24 hours following VT in comparison to that level when measured after 24 h (4.9 +/- 6.2mg/l versus 3.0 +/- 4.4mg/l, P = .049). Conclusion. Inflammatory state is an active process in patients with ARVD/C. Moreover, there is a higher level of CRP in patients soon after ventricular tachycardia, and this probably tends to decrease after the event.