查看文章

Experimental studies have suggested that TNFα, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, may contribute to the deterioration of cardiovascular function through various mechanisms, including the generation of reactive oxygen species. It has not yet been demonstrated whether TNFα has prooxidant activity in patients with heart failure, and what the mechanism eventually resulting in this effect are.

We analyzed 42 patients (38 men and 4 women, aged 26 to 74 years) with heart failure, secondary to idiopathic dilated car-diomyopathy (n=21), coronary artery disease (n=15), and valve disease (n=6), and 20 controls (18 men and 2 women, aged 49 to 67 years). Ten patients were in class I,9 in class II,15 in class III and 8 in class IV according to NYHA Classification. Blood samples were obtained from each patient to evaluate basal and collagen-induced platelet O₂ ^- production, and plasma TNFα.

In vivo results showed increased …