From the Research
Cardiac Coherence and the Immune System
The relationship between cardiac coherence and the immune system is complex and involves multiple mechanisms.
- The immune system plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure (CHF), with proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines contributing to cardiac depression and progression of heart failure 1.
- Activation of the immune system in heart failure has been recognized for over 20 years, with both positive and negative effects depending on timing and aetiology of heart failure 2.
- Immune cells, such as T and B lymphocytes, are involved in the development and progression of heart failure, with sustained pathological chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling leading to a dysfunctional heart 3.
- The crosstalk between the cardiovascular and immune systems is highly integrated, with balance altered by physical or psychological stressors leading to inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and tissue damage 4.
- Atrial fibrillation, a common sustained arrhythmia, has been linked to immune response, with immune cells playing a vital role in its pathogenesis, although the precise mechanism remains unclear 5.
Level of Evidence
The level of evidence for the relationship between cardiac coherence and the immune system is based on various studies, including:
- Experimental studies demonstrating a maladaptive role of the immune system in heart failure 2.
- Clinical trials showing mixed results with therapies directed against immune activation in heart failure 2, 3.
- Preclinical studies describing positive and negative effects of immune activation in heart failure, depending on timing and aetiology 2.
- Reviews highlighting the importance of immune mechanisms in the development of heart failure and the potential for therapeutic strategies targeting the immune system 1, 3, 4.