Key result
Elevated IL-6 levels were associated with significantly higher MACE rates compared to lower levels (7.5 vs. 3.3 events/100 patient-years; P<0.001) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Why the study?
The role of interleukin-6 in risk stratification and prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy remains underexplored.
Do elevated serum IL-6 levels predict major adverse cardiac events in Asian patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Cohort (n=255)
Do elevated serum IL-6 levels predict major adverse cardiac events in Asian patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Elevated serum IL-6 levels are associated with adverse CMR markers and higher rates of major adverse cardiac events in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, enhancing risk stratification when combined with morphological assessment.
Background Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in adverse cardiac remodeling and outcomes in various cardiovascular diseases. Its role in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), particularly in risk stratification and prognosis, remains underexplored. This study evaluates serum IL-6 levels alongside cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging parameters as predictors of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with apical HCM (ApHCM) and non-apical HCM (Non-ApHCM). Method A cohort of 255 patients was recruited between 2013 and 2023, with blood samples collected for genetic analysis and biomarker testing. A subset of 196 patients underwent CMR imaging to assess left ventricular morphology, function, and myocardial fibrosis. MACE was defined as the composite occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, or all-cause mortality. Results Patients with elevated IL-6 levels (above the median) demonstrated significantly higher MACE rates compared to those with lower levels (7.5 vs. 3.3 events/100 patient-years; pairwise log-rank P < 0.001). IL-6 levels correlated with adverse CMR markers, including myocardial fibrosis, increased left atrial volume, and impaired strain, regardless of HCM subtype. Combining IL-6 levels with morphological classification revealed stepwise risk stratification, with MACE rates escalating from 0.9 (ApHCM with low IL-6) to 8.8 events/100 patient-years (Non-ApHCM with high IL-6) (pairwise log-rank P < 0.001). Conclusion This study highlights IL-6 as a critical biomarker associated with adverse outcomes in HCM. When integrated with morphological assessment, IL-6 enhances risk stratification and provides a novel approach to assessing disease severity. These findings underscore the potential for IL-6 to guide clinical decision-making and inform therapeutic strategies in HCM.
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Le et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n=255). Elevated Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels vs. Lower IL-6 levels was evaluated on Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (composite of ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, or all-cause mortality) (p=<0.001). Elevated IL-6 levels were associated with significantly higher MACE rates compared to lower levels (7.5 vs. 3.3 events/100 patient-years; P<0.001) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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