The changes and importance of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in patients with congestive heart failure

Objectives To investigate the changes and importance of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α) and interleukin 6 (IL 6) in patients with congestive heart failure.Methods 56 patients with CHF and 30 healthy subjects were chosed for this study. TNF α and IL 6 were determined with sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. LVEF was measured with two dimensional echocardiographic method.Results ① Serum TNF α\, IL 6 and NE levels were higer in the patients with CHF of all groups. Serum TNF α\, IL 6 and NE levels in the patients with NYHA function class Ⅱ was as similar as control group ( P0 05 ). Serum TNF α\, IL 6 and NE levels in the patients with NYHA function class Ⅲ, Ⅳ were higer than those of the controls and NYHA function class Ⅱ, and LVEF was significantly negatively correlated with the levels of TNF α ( r=-0 54, P0 05 )? IL-6( r=-0 63, P0 01 ) and NE ( r=0 58, P0 01 ). ②The more severe CHF, the higer of TNF α\, IL 6 and NE in serum, NE was significantly associated with TNF α and IL 6 ( r=0 57, P0 01; r=0 51, P0 05 ). ③The more severe CHF, the higer of TNF α and IL 6 in serum, IL 6 was significantly associated with TNF α( r=0 39, P0 05 ).Conclusions The patients with CHF, serum TNF α\, IL 6 and NE levels were significantly increased, especial in mild and severe CHF, which were negatively correlated with LVEF. This result supported the hypothesis that in heart failure both cytokines, TNF α and IL 6, as well as NE can be an indication in clinical prognosis of the disease.