Circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha correlate positively with severity of peripheral oedema in patients with right heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Several previous studies have shown that circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) are elevated in patients with advanced congestive heart failure. However, the relationship between circulating levels of TNF and severity of peripheral oedema in these patients has not been previously evaluated.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between circulating levels of TNF, and severity of peripheral oedema in patients with right-sided heart failure (RHF).


RESULTS
Circulating levels of TNF were measured in 15 healthy volunteers, and in 83 patients with RHF with various levels of peripheral oedema. At presentation, 13 patients had no peripheral oedema (grade 0), 22 patients had mild peripheral oedema (grade 1), 23 patients had moderate peripheral oedema (grade 2), and 25 patients had severe peripheral oedema (grade 3). The values of circulating TNF levels (mean +/- S.E.M.) at presentation in the control group and in the RHF patients (oedema grades 0-3) were 2.98+/-0.21, 4.22+/-0.55, 4.67+/-0.29, 7.66+/-0.44, and 10.94+/-0.67 pg/mL respectively. There was a significant difference between the groups (p < 0.0001, ANOVA), and a significant positive correlation was found between circulating TNF levels and severity of peripheral oedema (r = 0.77, p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
A significant relationship is present between circulating levels of TNF and severity of peripheral oedema in patients with RHF.
Odeh
Majed
M
Department of Internal Medicine B and, Bnai Zion Medical Center, P.O. Box 6477, Haifa 31063, Israel. majed.odeh@b-zion.org.il
Sabo
Edmond
E
Oliven
Arie
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004489:Edema, Cardiac / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha