Abstract 18591: Relationship Between Gut Microbiota, Inflammation and Congestion Among Advanced Heart Failure Patients

Introduction: Circulating biomarkers of congestion and inflammation correlate with poor clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF). Splanchnic venous congestion may alter intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota composition leading to inflammation. Microbial diversity is a new biomarker of health and metabolic capacity and is reduced in HF. Hypotheses: Reduced microbial diversity is associated with congestion and inflammation in HF pts. Methods: We enrolled 67 HF pts (NYHA class I-IV). CD146, endothelin-1 (ET-1), interleukin-6 (IL6), interleukin-10 (IL10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), adiponectin and CRP were assessed in venous blood. Bacterial DNA was extracted from stool and V3-V4 16S rRNA was sequenced. Alpha-diversity (the number of taxa within pts) and beta-diversity (similarity in bacteria between pts) were calculated via standard methods. Multivariable models assessed the associations between diversity metrics, or bacterial taxa, and the aforementioned biomarkers. Results: Pts were 60±13...