Increased IL-12p70 levels in intraoperative pericardial fluid is predictive of postoperative atrial fibrillation onset after coronary artery bypass surgery

Background Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most frequent complication after heart surgery, prolonging hospital stays, as well as increasing morbidity and death. Previous studies have investigated the determinants of post-heart surgery AF; however, the risk factors contributing to POAF occurrence after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) remains largely unknown. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine if biomarker levels, such as cytokines, within intraoperative pericardial fluid could be used as predictive markers for POAF onset among CABG individuals. Methods 180 patients with no atrial arrhythmia history, who have undergone CABG, were identified, and the human magnetic Luminex assay was used to measure the levels of 36 pericardial fluid cytokines. POAF development was continuously monitored, using both postoperative electrocardiograms and telemetry strips, until the time of discharge. Results POAF was found in 30/124 patients (24.19%). These patients, compared to those with normal sinus rhythms (SR), had significantly higher levels of the interleukin (IL)-12p70 cytokine within their intraoperative pericardial fluids (p < 0.001). Subsequently, IL-12p70 was found to be an independent risk factor for POAF (OR = 1.201; 95% CI, 1.001–1.510; P = 0.014), and ROC analysis determined that the cut-off threshold for predicting POAF onset was 116.435 pg/ml, based on the maximum Youden index (area under the curve: 0.816). Conclusion In this study, we demonstrated that increased IL-12p70 levels within intraoperative pericardial fluid was an independent risk factor for POAF, particularly at levels above the cut-off of 116.435pg/ml. This finding thus could serve as a possible marker for detecting future POAF.