Skip Navigation

European Journal of Heart Failure 2007 9(1):51-54; doi:10.1016/j.ejheart.2006.04.001
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zimmermann, O.
Right arrow Articles by Torzewski, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Zimmermann, O.
Right arrow Articles by Torzewski, J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 2007 European Society of Cardiology

Prognostic role of myocardial tumor necrosis factor-alpha and terminal complement complex expression in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Oliver Zimmermanna,*, Matthias Kochsa, Thomas P. Zwakab, Magdalena Bienek-Ziolkowskia, Martin Höherc, Vinzenz Hombacha and Jan Torzewskia

a Department of Internal Medicine II–Cardiology, University of Ulm Robert-Koch-Str. 8, 89081 Ulm, Germany
b Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX 77030, USA
c Department of Internal Medicine II Klinikum Bayreuth, 95445 Bayreuth, Germany

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 731 500 0; fax: +49 731 500 24442. E-mail address: oliver.zimmermann{at}medizin.uni-ulm.de


  Abstract

Background: In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), elevated plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} (TNF-{alpha}) are associated with poor prognosis. The terminal complement complex (C5b-9) stimulates myocardial TNF-{alpha} expression.

Aims: To investigate whether myocardial TNF-{alpha} and C5b-9 expression correlate with clinical outcome in DCM.

Methods and results: 71 patients with DCM underwent myocardial biopsy. Biopsies were analyzed for TNF-{alpha}, C5b-9, markers of inflammation and for viral genome. Patients were divided into three groups according to biopsy results: group A: no TNF-{alpha} and no C5b-9; group B: TNF-{alpha} or C5b-9; and group C: TNF-{alpha} and C5b-9. NYHA classification, ECG and echocardiography were documented. Patients received conventional treatment of heart failure and, in a few cases, additional treatment with interferon β1b (virus positive) or prednisolone (inflammatory DCM).

There were 13 patients (18%) in group A, 19 patients (27%) in group B, and 39 patients (55%) in group C. All groups had a similar and significant improvement in NYHA classification and echocardiographic parameters. TNF-{alpha} and C5b-9 did not significantly correlate with the presence of viral genome or with markers of inflammation.

Conclusion: TNF-{alpha} and C5b-9 are widely distributed in the myocardium of DCM patients. Neither of the antigens correlates with clinical outcome. Myocardial TNF-{alpha} may not be a useful prognostic marker in DCM.

Key Words: Dilated cardiomyopathy • Biopsy • Heart failure • TNF-{alpha} • Terminal complement complex

Received September 8, 2005; Revised February 2, 2006; Accepted April 3, 2006


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.