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Published on: September 25, 2017
Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 levels in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy
David Leibowitz1, David Planer, Fanny Ben-Ivgi
1Coronary Care Unit and Department of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem. oleibo@hadassah.org.il
Insights
This study found no consistent link between elevated cytokines like tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and increased left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients. Further research is needed to understand these complex relationships.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Elevated left ventricular mass (LVM) is a marker of cardiac damage in hypertension.
- Cytokines such as tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) may play a role in hypertensive heart disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum levels of TNF and IL-6 and left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients.
- To determine if elevated cytokine levels are present in hypertensive individuals with increased left ventricular mass.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study design.
- Echocardiography for left ventricular (LV) mass and ejection fraction (EF) measurements.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum TNF and IL-6 quantification.
Main Results:
- 19 out of 35 hypertensive patients (54%) exhibited elevated LV mass.
- Only 6% of patients with elevated LV mass had detectable TNF levels, and 7% had detectable IL-6 levels.
- No statistically significant association was found between elevated LV mass and detectable serum TNF or IL-6 levels (p = NS).
Conclusions:
- Hypertensive patients with elevated left ventricular mass do not consistently show increased serum levels of TNF or IL-6.
- The role of these specific cytokines in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension requires further investigation.
Abstract:
The objective of this prospective study was to examine the association between serum levels of TNF (tumor-necrosis factor) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) and left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients currently receiving medical therapy were eligible. All subjects underwent echocardiography with measurements of left ventricular (LV) mass and ejection fraction (EF) and had serum levels of TNF and IL-6 measured by ELISA immunoassay. 35 subjects (20F, 15M; mean age 56.4 +/- 10.5 yrs) were studied. 19 patients (54%) had elevated LV mass. Of these patients, 6 (32%) had detectable serum TNF levels and 1 (7%) had detectable IL-6 levels, (p = NS). Hypertensive patients with elevated LV mass do not consistently exhibit elevated cytokine levels when compared to those with normal LV mass.
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