Publication:

Levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with different phenotypes of heart failure

Background The association between HF and inflammation was first recognized in 1990 by Levine et al, who reported elevated levels of TNF in patients with HFrEF. To date, the levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and interleukin 1-beta are verified to be increased in plasma of HF patients. Current clinical trials are investigating on the effectiveness of IL-1 blockade to reduce inflammation, ventricular remodeling, and improved exercise capacity in patients with HF.

Methods The study included 76 patients with HF of NYHA functional classes I-IV. 46 (61%) patients had a preserved LVEF (≥50%) and 30 (39%) had reduced LVEF ( 0.05). Reliability of the obtained results should be further checked on larger samples of patients.