Key result
In patients hospitalized for acute heart failure, IL-6 levels above the median were independently predictive of 1-year mortality (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-2.9, P=0.003).
Cohort (n=465)
Hazard Ratio: 1.9 (95% CI 1.2–2.9)
p-value: p=0.003
In acute heart failure, IL-6 is strongly associated with cardiac stress and independently predicts 1-year mortality, whereas TNF-α is more closely related to renal function.
IL-6 may refine mortality risk stratification in acute HF; leaves open whether targeted anti-inflammatory therapy improves outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Inflammation is thought to be a mediator in the pathophysiology of the cardiorenal syndrome. We evaluated the interactions between kidney function, cardiac stress, and various inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). The effect on 1-year mortality was also assessed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma levels of cystatin C, NT-proBNP, and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], IL-10) were measured in consecutive patients (n = 465) hospitalized for AHF. After adjustment for demographic characteristics and comorbidities, TNF-α had the strongest relation with renal function (β = 0.39, P < 0.0001). Elevated TNF-α levels were seen in patients with high cystatin C, irrespective of NT-proBNP. Levels of IL-6 (β = 0.26, P < 0.0001) and IL-10 (β = 0.15, P < 0.01), but not TNF-α, were associated with NT-proBNP. Moreover, the most elevated levels of IL-6 were seen in patients with combined high NT-proBNP and high cystatin C. Cox regression analysis found IL-6 above median to be independently predictive of mortality (hazard ratio 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-2.9, P = 0.003). TNF-α was not significantly associated with prognosis in the overall population after adjustment for multiple covariates, but improved risk stratification in the subgroup with low cystatin C and NT-proBNP. CONCLUSION: Levels of TNF-α in AHF are related to kidney function, but not to NT-proBNP. IL-6 seems to be more associated with cardiac stress. Patients with severe dual organ dysfunction have the highest levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. Different relations of inflammatory cytokines to renal function and cardiac stress need to be considered when evaluating heart--kidney interactions.
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Lassus et al. (2011) conducted a cohort in acute heart failure (n=465). IL-6 above median was evaluated on 1-year mortality (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.9, p=0.003). In patients hospitalized for acute heart failure, IL-6 levels above the median were independently predictive of 1-year mortality (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-2.9, P=0.003).
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