NOD-like receptor protein 3 and high mobility group box-1 are associated with prognosis of patients with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between plasma levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and their prognostic significance in neonatal patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: This study enrolled neonatal patients with CHD and collected their demographic and clinical data. Plasma concentrations of NLRP3 and HMGB1 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Spearman’s analysis was used to determine the correlation between NLRP3 and HMGB1 levels. The association between NLRP3 and HMGB1 levels and 2-year survival and mortality were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier curve and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 84 neonatal patients with CHD were included in the study. Plasma NLRP3 and HMGB1 levels were significantly higher in deceased patients compared with those that survived. There was a positive correlation between NLRP3 and HMGB1 levels in neonatal patients with CHD. Patients with elevated levels of NLRP3 and HMGB1 showed significantly lower 2-year survival and higher mortality rates compared with those with lower NLRP3 and HMGB1 levels. CONCLUSION: Neonatal patients with CHD and a poor prognosis had higher NLRP3 and HMGB1 levels, which suggests that these might be potential biomarkers of CHD prognosis.