الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The syndrome of congestive heart failure (CHF) is characterized by left ventricular dysfunction and reduced exercise, capacity. The syndrome is associated with activation of neurohumoral systems, fluid accumulation, limitation of peripheral circulation, and end-organ failure. Symptomatic congestive heart failure is associated with high circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6). Peripheral IL-6 levels correlate well with the clinical severity of CHF and have been shown to have prognostic significance. The role of IL-6 in patients with asymptomatic left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction has not been well characterized but may provide some insight into pathophysiologic changes that occur at the earliest stages of LV dysfunction. The prognostic importance of elevated inflammatory markers at this early stage can be speculated that such increased levels of cytokines may identify subset of patients at risk for rapid progression to clinical CHF. In that regards, elevated IL-6 levels may have similar prognostic importance in patients with asymptomatic LV systolic dysfunction as they do for patients at the later stages of the disease. |