Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α as biochemical markers of heart failure: a head-to-head clinical comparison with B-type natriuretic peptide

Background The reliability of interieukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as biochemical markers of heart failure in comparison to B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has not been investigated in depth. Aim To compare the correlations between IL-6, TNF, BNP plasma concentrations and some clinical and instrumental variables and their prognostic value in heart failure patients. Methods In 79 patients with heart failure, the correlations between IL-6, TNF and BNP plasma concentrations and a series of 18 variables were studied. Outcome events were death from any cause and combined death and heart transplantation. Results At univariate analysis, BNP and IL-6 plasma concentrations correlated with each other (r = 0.4828; P<0.0001), with New York Heart Association class, fluid retention, left ventricular ejection fraction, mean right atrial pressure, mean pulmonary pressure and cardiac index. All these correlations were stronger with BNP. TNF plasma concentration correlated only with New York Heart Association class and left ventricular ejection fraction. During follow-up, 1-32 months, 14 patients died and nine underwent heart transplantation. At univariate analysis, both BNP and IL-6 plasma concentrations were predictors of death and heart transplantation, but only BNP was a predictor of death; however, only creatinine plasma level was an independent predictor of prognosis. Conclusion IL-6 and TNF are less reliable biochemical markers than BNP in heart failure patients. J Cardiovasc Med 10:758-764 (C) 2009 Italian Federation of Cardiology.