Inflammatory Biomarkers in Heart Failure: Clinical Perspectives on hsCRP, IL-6 and Emerging Candidates

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Immunology
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) is a major global health concern.
• Systemic low-grade inflammation is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in HF development and progression.
• Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are key inflammatory markers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnostic and therapeutic significance of IL-6 and hsCRP in HF.
• To evaluate their role in improving risk stratification and personalizing HF treatment.
• To explore their potential in precision medicine for HF.

Main Methods:

• Review of current scientific literature and clinical trial data.
• Analysis of the association between IL-6, hsCRP levels, and HF outcomes.
• Examination of evidence for IL-6's causal role in HF and coronary artery disease via Mendelian randomization studies.

Main Results:

• Elevated IL-6 and hsCRP levels are linked to higher risks of developing HF and adverse outcomes in patients with existing HF.
• While hsCRP is a downstream marker, IL-6 signaling appears causally involved in HF pathogenesis.
• Targeting inflammatory pathways is a viable therapeutic strategy for specific HF patient groups.

Conclusions:

• IL-6 and hsCRP are valuable biomarkers for assessing residual inflammatory risk in HF.
• These inflammatory markers can enhance individual risk prediction and guide anti-inflammatory therapies, advancing precision medicine in HF.
• Further large-scale studies are necessary to integrate these biomarkers into clinical HF management and guidelines.