title: Plasma interleukin-6 level is associated with NT-proBNP level and predicts short- and long-term mortality in patients with acute heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interleukin 6 plays an important role in chronic heart failure (HF), but little is known about its involvement in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). The aim of our study is to evaluate the prognostic role of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the patients with ADHF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma levels of interleukin IL-6, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide levels, and clinical covariates were measured in 92 patients with ADHF. Survival was followed up to 12 months, and prognostic factors were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevated plasma IL-6 levels were increased in nonsurvivors and were associated with 1-year mortality (p < 0.01). Plasma IL-6 levels were associated with plasma NT-proBNP levels. In multivariate analysis, increased plasma IL-6 and NT-proBNP levels remained strong independent predictors of 1-year mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma IL-6 levels provide important prognostic information in the patients with ADHF. Measurement combining plasma IL-6 and NT-proBNP should serve as a powerful prognostic tool of multimarker strategy in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. pudilradek@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pudil
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tichý
authors.forename: Ctirad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrýs
authors.forename: Vít
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rehácek
authors.forename: Václav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bláha
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vojácek
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palicka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain