CYTOKINE PROFILE IN CHRONIC CARDIAC-FAILURE

Elevated tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) has been demonstrate d in chronic cardiac failure: (CCF) and may relate to severity of CCF and development of cachexia. We measured ?INF receptor p55 in addition to TNF-alpha in an attempt to improve the detection rate of TNF-alpha activation, and simultaneously measured interleukin 6 IL-6), interleu kin 8 (IL-8) and C-reactive protein. Thirty-four patients with CCF and 24 control subjects were studied. Only TNF receptor p55 [6.95 (0.77-4 2.3) vs. 5.52 (1.50-13.36) ng mL(-1) (median (range)] and IL-6 [0.335 (0-9.79) vs. 0 (0-14.71) pg mL(-1)) were significantly elevated in pat ients compared with control subjects (both P < 0.05). All inflammatory markers were more frequently elevated in patients, but none correlate d with any of the clinical; parameters studied. Reasons for inflammato ry marker elevation in CCF are uncertain, but future studies should me asure the p55 TNF receptor and IL-6 in addition to TNF-alpha, to impro ve detection of cytokine activity.