title: Anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha therapy in heart failure: future directions.
abstract: The elevated level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with heart failure has triggered interest in investigating the role of TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Both clinical and experimental evidence has suggested that high levels of TNF-alpha occur in heart failure and lead to progression of left ventricular dysfunction. In addition, it has been documented that inhibition of TNF-alpha reverses its deleterious effects in heart failure. A number of clinical trials have been initiated to investigate the effect of anti-TNF-alpha therapy in patients with heart failure. The discouraging results of recent clinical trials of anti-TNF-alpha therapy in patients with heart failure have raised a number of questions about the role of TNF-alpha in heart failure. The present review critically analyzes the reasons of failure of anti-TNF-alpha therapy in heart failure. Moreover the potential approaches for the development of new anti-TNF-alpha therapy has been discussed which may open new vista of the management of heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala-147 002, India.
authors.forename: Pitchai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balakumar
authors.forename: Manjeet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068800:Etanercept; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept; D010431:Pentoxifylline