Different effect of percutaneous and surgical coronary revascularization on cardiac autonomic function and inflammation in patients with stable angina

We assessed heart rate variability (HRV) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels in 77 patients with chronic stable angina (CSA), 47 of whom had obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and 30 normal or near-normal coronary arteries (NCA). The effect of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and bypass surgery (CABG) on HRV and CRP was assessed in 36 patients (18 PCI, 18 CABG) 6 months after the intervention. A significant inverse correlation was found between CRP levels and HRV variables in CAD patients (best r value = − 0.31, p = 0.036 for very low frequency amplitude), but not in NCA patients. At follow-up, however, no significant correlation was found between CRP and HRV in PCI and CABG treated patients. Thus, while confirming the presence of a relation between cardiac autonomic dysfunction and inflammation in CAD patients, our data show that the association is lost after revascularization procedures.