Kalińczuk L, Zieliński K, Chmielak Z, et al. - Researchers assessed the prognostic significance of early platelet and WBC count alterations (thrombo-inflammatory response) following successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). They included 432 consecutive patients [median 83.0 years of age, 63.4% female] in this study. Among participants, they measured platelets and WBCs before and for 7 days after TAVI. A follow-up of 36.9 (21.4-48.0) months was performed. At days 1-3, they noted a fall in platelet count (∆%Platelet-max) and a parallel increase in WBC (∆%WBC-max). Among 28% of patients who showed a greater decrease in platelets and a greater rise in WBCs, the observed 30-day and 1-year mortality (13.1% and 26.2%) were highest. Among 52.5% of patients with either a greater decrease in platelets or a greater rise in WBCs, but not both, the 30-day and 1-year mortality were intermediate ((0.9% and 12.3%); these were lowest (0% and 6.6%) among 19.5% patients with a lesser fall in platelets and a lesser rise in WBCs. The 4-year mortality rates were estimated to be 53.7% vs 36.2% vs 24.5%, respectively. A more intense thrombo-inflammatory response was predicted by bleeding, surgical wounds, acute kidney and brain injury, whereas an opposite influence was noted when newer generations were used. Overall, higher long-term mortality was predicted by substantial thrombo-inflammatory response identified following successful TAVI.