Changes of serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in elderly patients with heart failure

AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum levels of TNF-α, sTNFRI, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β₁ and cardiac function in elderly patients with heart failure.METHODS: The serum levels of TNF-α, sTNFRI, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β₁ were determined by ELISA in 112 elderly patients with heart failure and 60 elderly normal subjects.The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by color Doppler ultrasonic instrument.RESULTS: (1) Compared with normal subjects group, the serum levels of TNF-α, sTNFRI, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β₁ in elderly patients with heart failure were significantly elevated (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and increased gradually with upgrade of cardiac function according to cardiac function classification of New York Heart Association (P<0.05 or P<0.01).(2) The ratio of TNFα/sTNFRI and IL-6/IL-10 in patients with heart failure were notably higher than those in control (P<0.05, P<0.01) and increased gradually with upgrade of cardiac function classification (P<0.05, P<0.01).(3) In heart failure group, a significantly positive correlation was found between serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and LVEDD.A significantly negative correlation between serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and LVEF was also observed.CONCLUSION: The serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are closely related with cardiac function in elderly patients with heart failure.The balances of TNFα/sTNFRI and IL-6/IL-10 shifted towards inflammatory side.Furthermore, the changes of them reflect the varieties of cardiac function.