Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in cats with congestive heart failure

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are increased in cats with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to cardiomyopathy. ANIMALS: 26 adult cats with CHF and cardiomyopathy and 9 healthy control cats. PROCEDURE: Plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha were measured in cats with CHF and cardiomyopathy. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha was measured by quantifying cytotoxic effects of TNF-alpha on L929 murine fibrosarcoma cells. RESULTS: Concentrations of TNF-alpha were increased (0.13 to 3.6 U/ml) in 10 of 26 cats with CHF but were undetectable in the other 16 cats with CHF and all control cats. In 20 of 26 cats with CHF right-sided heart failure (RHF) was evident; TNF-alpha concentrations were increased in 9 of these 20 cats. The remaining 6 cats had left-sided heart failure (LHF); TNF-alpha concentrations were increased in only 1 of these cats. Age of cats with LHF (mean +/- SD, 12.1+/-6.2 years) was not significantly different from age of the cohort with RHF (10.5+/-5.2 years). Body weight of cats with increased TNFalpha concentrations (5.4+/-1.8 kg) was not significantly different from body weight of cats with CHF that did not have measurable concentrations of TNF-alpha (4.7+/-1.6 kg). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Concentrations of TNF-alpha were increased in many cats with CHF. Cats with RHF were most likely to have increased TNF-alpha concentrations. Increased plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha in cats with CHF may offer insights into the pathophysiologic mechanisms of heart failure and provide targets for therapeutic interventions.