Elevated circulating levels of neutrophil extracellular traps after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery as risk factors of postoperative atrial fibrillation and mortality

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can trigger a systemic inflammatory response during the perioperative period, which may lead to the consumption of the contact system and the production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). This study attempted to determine whether the formation of NETs and contact activation are a vivid occurrence during CPB and whether they are related to post-operative atrial fibrillation (AF) and survival. A prospective observational study was conducted in 97 patients who underwent aortic valve and/or aorta replacement surgery with CPB. Circulating markers of NETs [histone-DNA complex, cell-free double stranded DNA (dsDNA), neutrophil elastase] and the contact system [prekallikrein, high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK), activated factor XII (FXIIa)] were measured at four-time points: before surgery (T0), immediately after surgery (T1), 1 day after surgery (T2), and 3 days after surgery (T3). Elevated levels of circulating NETs markers were observed across post-CPB time. Significantly elevated levels of histone-DNA complex and cell-free dsDNA measured T3 were detected in patients with post-operative AF compared to those without. In logistic regression analysis, levels of histone-DNA complex and cell-free dsDNA measured at T3 were significant markers of risk for occurrence of AF. The levels of cell-free dsDNA measured T2 were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors. The level of cell-free dsDNA showed significant prognostic value. NETs markers may be useful for the assessment of risk for post-operative AF and mortality. Conduct of additional research regarding the role of NETs as clinical markers and as a therapeutic target in CPB is anticipated.