Propensity-score matched comparison of renal and neurohormonal effects of catheter ablation for frequent premature ventricular contractions in patients with and without systolic dysfunction

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) for premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) restores cardiac and renal functions in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF); however, its effects on preserved EF remain unelucidated.Methods: The study cohort comprised 246 patients with a PVC burden of >10% on Holter electrocardiography. Using propensity matching, we compared the changes in B -type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients who underwent CA or did not.Results: Postoperative BNP levels were decreased significantly in the CA group, regardless of the degree of LVEF, whereas there was no change in those of the non-CA group. Among patients who underwent CA, BNP levels decreased from 44.1 to 33.0 pg/mL in those with LVEF >= 50% (p = .002) and from 141.0 to 87.9 pg/mL in those with LVEF <50% (p < .001). Regarding eGFR, postoperative eGFR was significantly improved in the CA group of patients with LVEF >= 50% (from 71.4 to 74.7 mL/min/1.73 m(2), p = .006), whereas it decreased in the non-CA group. A similar trend was observed in the group with a reduced LVEF. Adjusted for propensity score matching, there was a significant decrease in the BNP level and recovery of eGFR after CA in patients with LVEF >50%.Conclusions: This study showed that CA for frequent PVCs decreases BNP levels and increases eGFR even in patients with preserved LVEF.