title: Serum and ascites fluid cytokine levels in patients with chronic heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cytokines that are capable of modulating cardiovascular function were reported to be elevated in patients with advanced heart failure. We evaluated the diagnostic importance of cytokines both in the serum and ascites.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined serum and ascites fluid TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and soluble IL-2 receptor levels in 14 patients with congestive heart failure (group 1) and in 15 patients with chronic liver disease (group 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ascites fluid IL-8 and soluble IL-2 receptor levels were found to be significantly elevated in group 1 when compared with group 2 (p = 0.014 and p = 0.005). There were no statistical differences in serum TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and soluble IL-2 receptor levels and ascites fluid TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 levels. Ascites fluid/serum IL-1beta and IL-8 ratio was lower in group 1 when compared with group 2 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005). Ascites fluid/serum IL-2 and IL-6 ratio was higher in group 1 when compared with group 2 (p = 0.035 and p = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytokine levels in ascites fluid, but not in serum, are important in congestive heart failure. Ascites fluid/serum cytokine level ratios were detected to be more conclusive and valid in the diagnosis work-up of ascites aetiology.
authors.affiliation: Inonu University, School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Malatya, Turkey. drsari@hotmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sevinc
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahceci
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hilmioglu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines