Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with heart failure and high concentrations of interleukin-17D

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is associated with cytokine activation and inflammation. Experimental evidence suggests that plasma interleukin-17 (IL-17) is associated with myocardial fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction in HF. IL-17D, a subtype of IL-17 originates from particular tissues such as the heart. However, there is very limited data on the IL-17 cytokine family in patients with HF. Therefore, we investigated the association between circulating IL-17D levels, clinical characteristics and outcome in a large cohort of patients with heart failure. 

Methods and results: Plasma IL-17D was measured in 2032 patients with HF from 11 European countries using a proximity extension assay. The primary outcome was a composite of HF hospitalization or all-cause mortality. Patients with higher plasma IL-17D concentrations were more likely to have atrial fibrillation (AF), renal dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and had higher plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations (all p < 0.001). IL-17D was not associated with interleukin-6 (IL-6) or C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. After adjustment for confounders in a multivariable Cox regression analysis, patients in the highest quartile of plasma IL-17D had a significantly increased risk of the composite outcome of HF hospitalization or all-cause mortality compared to patients in the lowest quartile [Hazard ratio (HR) 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–1.57]. 

Conclusion: In patients with HF, elevated plasma IL-17D concentrations are associated with higher plasma NT-proBNP concentrations and a higher prevalence of AF and renal dysfunction. High IL-17D concentrations are independently associated with worse outcome.