P160 - INTERLEUKIN-17, INTERLEUKIN-18, T REGULATORY CELLS AND T-HELPER 17 (TH17) CELLS PLAY A ROLE IN HEART FAILURE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Background: The objective of this study was to assess whether Interleukin-17 (IL-17), regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper17 (Th17) serum concentrations were different in chronic heart-failure not associated with myocarditis compared to healthy individuals.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We searched Medline, and Embase for studies with data on IL-17 serum concentrations in patients with chronic heart-failure. Forest plots were used to quantify results and depict the standard difference of means, 95% confidence interval, and P-value. Continuous outcomes were assessed as weighted mean differences (WMD) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI).

IL-17 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in patients with heart-failure. The combined effect size under the random effects model (MD = 40.00, 95% CI [6.04, 73.96], p < 0.001) showed a significant overall increase in IL-17 serum levels in heart failure. Th17 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in patients with heart-failure and Tregs are significantly lower compared to persons without heart failure. The random effects model indicates an MD of 1.59 (95% CI [0.88, 2.30]), highlighting significant elevation of TH17 levels in heart failure. For Tregs, the random effects model presented an MD of -2.96 (95% CI [-4.52, -1.40]), both indicating a significant decrease in Treg levels in HF.

Conclusion: Serum IL-17, Th17, and Treg count have utility for risk stratification for patients with heart-failure, as biomarkers for heart failure severity and potential target pathways for treatment.