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Isolation of Functional Cardiac Immune Cells
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Isolation of Functional Cardiac Immune Cells

Published on: December 5, 2011

[Immunactivation in chronic heart failure. Inflammatory mediators]

S Genth-Zotz1, S von Haehling, S Blankenberg

  • 1II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany. genth@2-med.klinik.uni-mainz.de

Zeitschrift Fur Kardiologie
|April 16, 2004
PubMed

Inflammatory cytokines are thought to contribute to the development and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF). It has been shown that especially tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is activated in patients with CHF and exerts detrimental effects on the myocardium. Recent studies have demonstrated that circulating levels of TNF, soluble TNF receptors 1 and 2 and interleukin-6 are strong prognostic markers. The results of two randomized studies directly antagonizing TNF in CHF patients were rather disappointing. Nevertheless, TNF antagonism remains a therapeutic option and should be focussed on patients with systemic immune activation, particularly at times of exacerbation.

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