Assessment of inflammation in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia

Purpose Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is a myocardial disease that predominantly affects the right ventricle (RV). Its hallmark feature is fibro-fatty replacement of RV myocardium. However, patchy inflammatory infiltrates in the RV are also consistently reported using autopsy and myocardial biopsy. Although the role of inflammation in ARVC/D is unresolved, the ability to assess inflammation non-invasively may aid in the diagnostic process. We aimed to establish whether cardiac inflammation can be assessed non-invasively in ARVC/D patients. Methods In eight ARVC/D patients and nine controls (haematology/oncology patients), the level of inflammatory activation was assessed by measuring plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines. Regional myocardial inflammation was assessed with 67 Ga scintigraphy. Results ARVC/D patients had higher plasma levels than controls of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β (1.22 ± 0.07 vs 0.08 ± 0.01 pg/ml, p