Immunoglobulin free light chain-κ in association with NT-proBNP levels after smoking cessation.

Background: Smoking induces inflammation in the heart and intima layer of blood vessels by activating nuclear factor kappa B, which controls the transcription of immunoglobulin free light chain (FLC)-κ. FLC levels are indicative of higher mortality in the overall population and poorer prognoses in cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to analyze the effect of smoking cessation (SC) on the levels of FLCs and markers of inflammation and heart failure.

Research design and methods: This study enrolled first visit smokers determined to quit smoking at our hospital. Levels of various clinical parameters, including inflammatory markers, such as FLC, were measured on their first clinic visit and after 3 months of successful SC.

Results: Body-mass-index (BMI) values significantly increased from baseline to 3 months after SC (n = 76, p = 0.004). Conversely, the levels of inflammatory markers including FLC-κ, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte-ratio and NT-proBNP significantly decreased after SC (p = 0.042, p = 0.024 and p = 0.030, respectively). Proportional changes in FLC-κ levels observed after SC showed a significant correlation with those of C-reactive-protein (r = 0.349, p = 0.002) and NT-proBNP (r = 0.332, p = 0.005) levels in the successful SC group.

Conclusions: Levels of FLC-κ, a novel inflammatory and cardiovascular risk biomarker, decreased significantly after SC in association with NT-proBNP, suggesting the SC-induced reduction of cardiac load as well as a decrease in inflammation.