Serial circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-6 in patients with acute left heart decompensation.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin (IL)-6 has recently been shown to have negative inotropic effects, and several studies have reported increases in circulating concentrations of this cytokine in patients with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction and chronic left heart failure. However, most previous clinical studies have measured cytokines in compensated chronic heart failure.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal evolution of circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines in patients with cardiomyopathy and acute cardiac decompensation, free of infection and unstable angina.


METHODS
The time course of circulating concentrations of CRP, an anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-4, and a proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 were studied in eight patients with cardiomyopathy and acute cardiac decompensation in the absence of infection or unstable angina. Control samples were obtained from eight age-matched asymptomatic subjects.


RESULTS
Increased circulating concentrations of CRP (2.6 +/- 0.8 mg/dl), IL-4 (164.6 + 36.5 pg/ml), and IL-6 (17.1 +/- 5.1 pg/ml) were found in all eight patients during acute cardiac decompensation; these values decreased significantly with the resolution of symptoms of cardiac decompensation (0.5 +/- 0.1 mg/dl, 77.8 +/- 23.6 pg/ml, 2.3 +/- 0.1 pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.05 for both). There was a significant correlation between peak CRP and peak IL-6 (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with acute left heart decompensation in the absence of infection or coronary events, CRP, IL-4, and IL-6 increased and returned toward normal levels as the symptoms of heart failure resolved. Since the changes in concentrations of CRP, IL-4, and IL-6 in patients with heart failure are dynamic, the distinction between compensated and decompensated state is important when discussing the significance of acute reactive proteins or cytokines in the pathogenesis of heart failure.
Sato
Y
Y
Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki Hospital, Japan.
Takatsu
Y
Y
Kataoka
K
K
Yamada
T
T
Taniguchi
R
R
Sasayama
S
S
Matsumori
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D015850:Interleukin-6; D015847:Interleukin-4; D002097:C-Reactive Protein