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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, RESULTS. Meshes: Cardiomyopathy, Dilated, Female, Humans, Interleukin-6, Male, Middle Aged, Myocarditis, Natriuretic Peptide, Brain, Neurotransmitter Agents, Peptide Fragments, Sympathetic Nervous System, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left.
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Is cardiac sympathetic activity associated with inflammation and neurohumoral activation in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy? Context: Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) is characterized by sympathetic nervous overactivity, inflammation and neurohumoral activation; however, their interrelationships are poorly understood. We studied 99 patients with IDC (age 54 +/- 1 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) 40 +/- 1%, maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) 20 +/- 1 ml kg(-1) min(-2), mean +/- SEM) by using (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging. MIBG washout and MIBG heart/mediastinum (H/M)-ratio at 4 h postinjection were calculated. In addition, the plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured. MIBG washout and MIBG H/M ratio had a significant correlation with IL-6 (r = 0.42, P<0.001 and r = -0.31, P<0.01) and NT-proBNP (r = 0.48, P<0.001 and r = -0.40, P<0.001). During a median follow-up of 4.1 years, 20 patients (20%) had an adverse cardiac event (death, heart transplantation or application of biventricular pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator). In these patients, MIBG washout was higher (53 +/- 4 versus 40 +/- 2%, P = 0.01) and H/M ratio lower (1.38 +/- 0.04 versus 1.51 +/- 0.02, P = 0.01) than in patients without an event.
assistant
In dilated cardiomyopathy, myocardial sympathetic innervation and activity are related to inflammation and neurohumoral activation. These relationships are at least partly independent of left ventricular function and exercise capacity. Final Decision: yes