Inflammation and arrhythmias: potential mechanisms and clinical implications

Inflammation is a pathological condition known since ancient times. Recent discoveries of inflammatory markers have given new insights into the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of arrhythmias. This article reviews global data on possible correlations between inflammation – acute or chronic – and cardiac arrhythmias. The authors discuss the role of inflammation in patients with supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Collected data support the hypothesis that the inflammatory process may be an important factor in cardiac rhythm disturbances.