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Inflammatory pathways in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction
Margit Niethammer1, Moritz Sieber, Stephan von Haehling
1Department of Medicine II, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
International Journal of Cardiology
|July 31, 2007
Summary
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients show systemic immune activation, indicated by elevated inflammatory markers. This immune response may contribute to their poor prognosis and disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Immune activation is known in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and linked to poor prognosis.
- Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) also carries an impaired prognosis, but the role of immune activation is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate signs of systemic immune activation in patients with HFpEF.
- To compare immune marker levels in HFpEF, HFrEF, and control groups.
Main Methods:
- Studied 17 HFpEF patients, 17 HFrEF patients, and 20 controls.
- Assessed levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR-1, sTNFR2, IL-6, IL-10, and NT-proBNP.
- Utilized echocardiography to assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and hypertrophy.
Main Results:
- HFpEF patients exhibited significantly higher levels of sTNFR1, sTNFR2, IL-6, IL-10, and NT-proBNP compared to controls.
- TNF-alpha levels were highest in HFrEF, similar between HFpEF and controls.
- Elevated cytokine and NT-proBNP levels were observed in HFrEF, with a negative correlation between TNF-alpha and LVEF.
Conclusions:
- Patients with HFpEF demonstrate systemic immune activation.
- This immune activation may contribute to the worse prognosis and progression to HFrEF.
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