Interleukin-6 is a stronger prognostic predictor than high-sensitive C-reactive protein in patients with chronic stable heart failure

Heart failure is characterized by activation of the immune system which is strongly associated with disease severity and outcome. We sought to compare the prognostic impact of two established inflammatory markers — interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) — in patients with chronic heart failure. In stable, optimally managed outpatients with chronic heart failure, baseline levels of hsCRP and IL-6 were determined. Clinical follow-up was obtained and the rate of events (heart failure related deaths or hospitalizations) were recorded. We included 201 patients (32.7% female, NYHA class II [66.2%] or III [33.8%], mean age 70 years). During a median follow up of 614 (367−761) days, 64 (30.9%) patients experienced an event; those with an event had higher levels of hsCRP (median 2.93 [interquartile range 2.36−8.92] vs 2.23 [1.32−5.77] mmol/l) and IL-6 (7.8 [4.7−10.3] vs 4.3 [2.6−7.9] pg/ml). However, on Cox multivariate analysis, IL-6 but not hsCRP emerged as an independent predictor of prognosis (hazard ratio HR_adjusted 2.74, 95% confidence interval 1.17−6.43; P = 0.020). Our findings suggest that IL-6 is a better prognostic predictor than hsCRP in patients with chronic stable heart failure.     

Atrial fibrillation, ischaemic heart disease, and the risk of death in patients with heart failure.

AIMS: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for death in patients with a myocardial infarction, but highly variable results are reported in patients with heart failure. We studied the prognostic impact of AF in heart failure patients with and without ischaemic heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: During a period of 2 years, 3587 patients admitted to hospital because of heart failure were included in this study. All patients were examined by echocardiography and the presence of AF was recorded. Follow-up was available for 8 years. Twenty four percent of those discharged alive from hospital had AF. After 4 and 8 years of follow-up, mortality was higher in patients with AF than in patients without, 56 vs. 52% and 77 vs. 73%, respectively. Cox multivariable regression analysis showed a small but significant importance of AF for long-term mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.12, 95% confidence limits (CI), 1.02-1.23, P=0.018]. There was a significant interaction between the importance of AF and the presence of ischaemic heart disease (P=0.034). In patients with AF at the time of discharge and ischaemic heart disease, HR was 1.25 (95% CI: 1.09-1.42) and P<0.001; in patients with AF at discharge and without ischaemic heart disease, HR was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.88-1.16) and P=0.88. CONCLUSION: AF is associated with increased risk of death only in patients with ischaemic heart disease. This finding may explain the variable results of studies of the prognosis associated with AF in heart failure.     

急性冠状动脉综合征患者C-反应蛋白升高与远期死亡率和心力衰竭的相关性分析

目的评估C-反应蛋白(CRP)与急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)患者远期预后的相关性。方法收集我院急诊ACS患者的资料并检测其CRP水平。入选患者随访3年,内容包括死亡,因急性心肌梗死(AMI)和充血性心力衰竭(CHF)而再次住院情况。结果共有446名患者入选,CRP升高的患者的死亡率和因CHF的再次住院率均高于CRP正常的患者(P<0.05)。校正心肌肌钙蛋白T(cTnT)水平后,急性期CRP>7.44 mg/L与发病后3年内的死亡率和因CHF再住院的风险增加仍显著相关。结论在胸痛早期就出现CRP升高的ACS患者的晚期死亡率和CHF风险增加。     

稳定期慢性充血性心力衰竭患者睡眠呼吸障碍

目的了解稳定期、已得到良好治疗的慢性充血性心力衰竭(心衰)患者的睡眠呼吸障碍的发生情况及睡眠呼吸障碍对心衰的影响.方法应用多导睡眠监护仪(Polywin1000,RespironicsInc.)对稳定期充血性心衰患者进行监测.结果病人分为两组,Ⅰ组(21例)A-H指数≤15,Ⅱ组(15例,占41.7%)A-H指数》15.Ⅱ组A-H指数为16.8～78.8,平均42.6±15.5,其中阻塞性AHI为11.1±8.4,而中枢性AHI为31.5±9.6.同时,Ⅱ组有着显著多的醒觉指数,为36.8±21.3(Ⅰ组为19.4±11.2),这直接与呼吸暂停及低通气指数有关,并与睡眠中最低血氧饱和度[Ⅱ组(76.7±4.6)%,Ⅰ组(86.5±2.8)%、更低的左心室射血分数[Ⅱ组(24.2±8.8)%,Ⅰ组(31.5±10.6)%]有关.结论稳定期慢性充血性心衰患者有着很高的严重的睡眠呼吸障碍的发生率,主要为伴中枢性睡眠呼吸暂停的周期性呼吸.睡眠呼吸障碍的发生与严重的夜间氧合血红蛋白饱和度的下降及过多的觉醒有关.严重的未经治疗的睡眠呼吸障碍可能影响左心室功能,并能加剧充血性心衰患者的死亡.     

B型利钠肽测定对充血性心力衰竭患者预后评估的研究

目的探讨B型利钠肽(BNP)对充血性心力衰竭(CHF)患者预后评估的价值。方法对343例因CHF住院的患者,入院时测定BNP,同时测定左心室射血分数(LVEF)、左心室舒张末内径(LVDD),胸片测定心胸比率(CTR)。出院前复查一次,随访观察患者3个月内的病死率、再住院率,作为终末事件。结果①心功能Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ级患者的BNP水平分别为(157±15)pg/ml、(341±22)pg/ml、(597±33)pg/ml、(1245±38)pg/ml。心功能越差,BNP越高,不同的NYHA心功能分级,BNP差异有显著性(P<0.001)。②BNP水平与LVEF呈明显负相关(r=-0.8,P<0.05)。③343例患者,住院期间死亡5例,3月内再次入院22例。事件组27例,其BNP水平为(1683±124)pg/ml,非事件组316例,其BNP水平为(468±48)pg/ml。两组差异有显著性(P<0.001)。4.将出院前BNP>1500pg/ml作为评估终末事件的界值,其预测预后的敏感性为96.3%,特异性为92.7%。5.对CHF患者的性别、年龄、LVEF、LVDD、BNP、病因等进行多元逐步回归分析,BNP与预后关系最密切。结论本文提示BNP较LVEF评价CHF更确切可靠,动态观察BNP变化水平是CHF患者有效的预后判断指标。     

Triiodothyronine levels for risk stratification of patients with chronic heart failure

PURPOSE: We sought to explore the use of triiodothyronine (T(3)) concentrations as an adjunct to clinical and functional parameters when estimating prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: We enrolled 281 patients with postischemic (n = 153) or nonischemic (n = 128) dilated cardiomyopathy. Total and free T(3) concentrations, and traditional clinical and functional cardiac parameters, were measured 2 to 5 days after hospital admission. A multivariate model was utilized to predict all-cause and cardiac mortality. RESULTS: All-cause mortality was 23% (n = 64) after a mean (+/-SD) of 12 +/- 7 months of follow-up; 47 (73%) of the patients died from cardiac causes. The mean ejection fraction was lower in those patients who died than in those who survived (26% +/- 8% vs. 31% +/- 8%, P < 0.001), as were levels of total T(3) (1.0 +/- 0.4 nmol/L vs. 1.3 +/- 0.3 nmol/L, P < 0.001) and free T(3) (3.2 +/- 1.4 pmol/L vs. 3.7 +/- 1.0 pmol/L, P < 0.001). In a multivariate model, ejection fraction (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0 per 10% decrease; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4 to 2.8 per 10% decrease; P < 0.001) and total T(3) level (OR = 0.3 per 1-nmol/L increase; 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.5 per 1-nmol/L increase; P < 0.001) were the only independent predictors of all-cause mortality. In an alternative model using free T(3) levels, ejection fraction (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4 to 2.7; P < 0.001) and free T(3) level (OR = 0.6 per 1 pmol/L; 95% CI: 0.5 to 0.8 per 1 pmol/L; P <0.02) were associated with all-cause mortality. When we considered cardiac mortality alone, male sex (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.7 to 13; P < 0.04), ejection fraction (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2 to 2.5; P < 0.006), and total T(3) level (OR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.7; P < 0.002) were independent predictors with the multivariate model. CONCLUSION: Low T(3) levels are an independent predictor of mortality in patients with chronic heart failure, adding prognostic information to conventional clinical and functional cardiac parameters.     

Dual chamber pacing with optimal AV delay in congestive heart failure: a randomized study.

AIM: A prospective randomized trial was set up to evaluate contractile parameters and quality of life in patients with congestive heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We describe the results from 38 patients in sinus rhythm and with chronic heart failure due to congestive cardiomyopathy, prospectively randomized to optimal medical therapy (Group 1, 19 patients) or optimal medical therapy plus dual chamber pacemaker programmed to optimal AV delay (Group 2, 19 patients). At a 6 month follow-up, 7/19 patients in Group 1 had died compared with 5/19 patients in Group 2. During follow-up, there were few significant changes in evaluated parameters except for mitral regurgitation time, which was prolonged in Group 1 and shortened in Group 2. The systolic left ventricular diameter shortened significantly only in Group 2. An energy and activity questionnaire showed that the effect of DDD pacing in the latter patient population was beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: From these results we may conclude that at the 6 month follow-up DDD pacing with echo-optimized AV interval programming can improve quality of life without affecting survival.     

Serial circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-6 in patients with acute left heart decompensation

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-6 has recently been shown to have negative inotropic effects, and several studies have reported increases in circulating concentrations of this cytokine in patients with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction and chronic left heart failure. However, most previous clinical studies have measured cytokines in compensated chronic heart failure. HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal evolution of circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines in patients with cardiomyopathy and acute cardiac decompensation, free of infection and unstable angina. METHODS: The time course of circulating concentrations of CRP, an anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-4, and a proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 were studied in eight patients with cardiomyopathy and acute cardiac decompensation in the absence of infection or unstable angina. Control samples were obtained from eight age-matched asymptomatic subjects. RESULTS: Increased circulating concentrations of CRP (2.6 +/- 0.8 mg/dl), IL-4 (164.6 + 36.5 pg/ml), and IL-6 (17.1 +/- 5.1 pg/ml) were found in all eight patients during acute cardiac decompensation; these values decreased significantly with the resolution of symptoms of cardiac decompensation (0.5 +/- 0.1 mg/dl, 77.8 +/- 23.6 pg/ml, 2.3 +/- 0.1 pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.05 for both). There was a significant correlation between peak CRP and peak IL-6 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute left heart decompensation in the absence of infection or coronary events, CRP, IL-4, and IL-6 increased and returned toward normal levels as the symptoms of heart failure resolved. Since the changes in concentrations of CRP, IL-4, and IL-6 in patients with heart failure are dynamic, the distinction between compensated and decompensated state is important when discussing the significance of acute reactive proteins or cytokines in the pathogenesis of heart failure.     

常规药物与联合曲美他嗪治疗充血性心力衰竭的临床观察

目的观察曲美他嗪对充血性心力衰竭(CHF)患者心功能影响。方法 80例病情稳定的CHF患者(NYHAⅡ～Ⅳ级),随机分为两组:对照组(40例,采用心力衰竭常规药物治疗)和治疗组(40例,常规药物治疗+曲美他嗪20mg,3次/d),治疗6个月。治疗前后观察心力衰竭症状和体征,测定左心室射血分数(LVEF)、左心室质量指数(LVMI)和左心室舒张末期内径(LVEDD),记录NYHA分级和心功能等指标的变化。结果入选前两组基线资料有可比性,治疗后曲美他嗪组的心功能改善的总有效率为95.0%,对照组为52.5%;曲美他嗪组LVMI[(106.7±13.6)g/m~2]低于对照组[(136.7±14.8)g/m~2],曲美他嗪组LVEF(51.4%±6.9%)高于对照组(43.6%±7.7%)(均为P0.05)。末见明显不良反应。结论在常规心力衰竭治疗基础上加用曲美他嗪,能改善CHF患者的心脏收缩功能,安全性好。     

充血性心衰患者早期运动康复的应用研究

目的：评价早期运动康复对充血性心衰患的临床疗效疗,探讨其运动方式和安全性。方法：对本院近4年来25例充血性心衰患在实施临床医疗措施的同时,早期介入运动康复,并与周期25例对照组进行比较,结果：25例患均顺利完成早期运动康复,其平均住院时间及住院费用显节省,可促进临床表现的好转,并发症发生率明显较对照组低,可增强患身体活动能力,提高出院时生活质量。续集：早期运动康复对充血性心衰患疗效显,安全可行。     

卡维地洛治疗扩张型心肌病心力衰竭疗效观察

目的　评价第三代 β受体阻滞剂卡维地洛治疗扩张型心肌病 (DCM)心力衰竭的临床疗效。方法　 6 2例 DCM心力衰竭患者在接受常规治疗 (洋地黄、利尿剂、血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂 )病情稳定后 ,随机分为卡维地洛组和美多心安组。均从小剂量 (卡维地洛组 ,2 .5 m g bid;美多心安组 ,6 .2 5 m g bid)缓慢递增。检测治疗前后 DCM患者左心室功能和结构的变化以及血液中内皮素 - 1(ET- 1)、心钠素 (ANP)和血管紧张素 (Ang )的改变。结果　治疗 6个月后 ,两组心脏功能分级均明显改善 ,左心室射血分数 (L VEF)、短轴缩短率 (FS)、左心室射血前期与射血时间比(PEP/ L VET)、舒张早期峰值血流速度 (PFVE)、舒张早期峰值血流速度与舒张晚期峰值血流速度比 (PFVE/ PF-VA)均明显增加 ,卡维地洛组较美多心安组 L VEF增加更为明显。两组左心房内径 (L AD)、左心室收缩末期内径(L VSD)、左心室舒张末期内径 (L VDD)明显减小 ,卡维地洛组 L VSD减小较美多心安组更明显。治疗后血浆中ET- 1、ANP和 Ang 均明显降低。结论　卡维地洛和美多心安都能够改善 DCM心力衰竭患者左心室收缩和舒张功能 ,逆转左心室重构 ,卡维地洛较美多心安疗效更佳。     

扩张型心肌病伴心衰患者肝细胞生长因子浓度与心功能的关系

目的探讨扩张型心肌病伴心衰患者血清肝细胞生长因子（HGF）浓度与心功能的关系。方法检测试验组扩张型心肌病伴心功能不全患者（NYHA心功能Ⅰ级15例、Ⅱ级16例、Ⅲ级15例、Ⅳ级17例）和26名健康对照者血清HGF浓度、NT—proBNP浓度、LVEDD值和LVEF值,比较各组各项指标的差异;同时探讨血清HGF浓度和上述指标的相关性。结果HGF浓度、NT—proBNP浓度、LVEDD值和LVEF值对照组分别为（323±29）pg／ml、（251±102）pg／ml、（42±7）mm和（57±11）％;NYHA心功能Ⅰ级组分别为（492±47）pg／ml、（973±112）pg／ml、（50±6）mm和（50±7）％;NYHA心功能Ⅱ级组分别为（607±68）pg／ml、（1229±214）pg／ml、（54±9）mm和（48±9）％;NYHA心功能Ⅲ级组分别为（662±94）pg／ml、（4208±1562）pg／ml、（59±16）mm和（42±7）％;NYHA心功能Ⅳ级组分别为（1028±135）pg／ml、（6963±2129）pg／ml、（66±19）mm和（38±6）％,各组间比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）.血清HGF浓度和NT—proBNP浓度呈正相关,相关系数为0．79;血清HGF浓度和LVEDD值呈正相关,相关系数为0．73;血清HGF浓度和LVEF值呈负相关,相关系数为-0．69。结论扩张型心肌病伴心功能不全患者血清HGF浓度和心功能不全的严重程度有关,可以作为心功能不全严重程度的预测因子。     

Severe congestive heart failure in mild pulmonic stenosis due to dysplastic pulmonary valve associated with cardiomyopathy

Congestive heart failure has never been described in patientswith dysplastic stenotic pulmonary valve without associatedshunt lesions. We describe two patients with mild pulmonic stenosisdue to valvular dysplasia associated with cardiomyopathy whodeveloped severe congestive heart failure. Since the small pressuregradients across the pulmonary valve cannot cause this complication,we suggest that it resulted from the associated hypertrophicnon-obstructive cardiomyopathy. The presence of cardiomyopathymay alter the clinical presentation and prognosis of patientswith dysplastic pulmonary valve. In some cases, like our twocases, the cardiomyopathy rather than the valvular lesion shouldbe considered the main disease.     

缬沙坦治疗充血性心力衰竭临床观察

目的 :探讨缬沙坦治疗充血性心力衰竭 (CHF)临床疗效。方法 :采用随机、单盲自身对照及组间对照 ,将 5 0例CHF分为缬沙坦组 (2 5例 ) ,服用缬沙坦 80mg/d ;常规治疗组 (对照组 ,2 5例 ) ,疗程均为 18周 ,观察两组治疗前后临床疗效、左室射血分数 (LVEF)、左室舒张末期容积 (EDV)、左室收缩末期容积 (ESV)、6min步行试验及实验室参数的变化。结果 :治疗后缬沙坦组临床显效率 4 8.0 % ,有效率 4 4 .0 % ,无效率 8.0 % ,对照组分别为 36 .0 %、4 0 .0 %、2 4 .0 % ,治疗后与治疗前相比两组LVEF、EDV、ESV、6min步行试验相关参数均有显著改善(P <0 .0 1) ,缬沙坦组与对照组组间比较差异有非常显著意义 (P <0 .0 1) ;血生化两组治疗前后及组间比较差异均无显著性意义 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :缬沙坦治疗CHF疗效肯定 ,优于常规治疗 ,值得临床推广应用     

双心室起搏治疗心力衰竭的初步经验

目的 介绍双心室起搏治疗心力衰竭衰竭的初步经验。方法 ６例充血性心力衰竭患者,男性４例,女性２例,平均年龄５８岁;心功能ＮＹＨＡ分级：Ⅲ～Ⅳ级：均伴有心室内阻滞。患者均植入了三腔双心室起搏器,左心室导线通过冠状静脉窦插入心脏静脉侧分支或侧后分支。结果 所有患者植入起搏器后临床症状改善,超声心动图检查显示左心室收缩功能和同步性改善,舒张期充盈改善,二尖瓣返流减少,此外,双心定起搏后,所有病例ＱＲＳ时     

C-reactive protein gene haplotypes and risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study.

AIMS: C-reactive protein is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease. However, whether C-reactive protein is a marker of severity of cardiovascular disease or actually is involved in its pathogenesis remains unknown. We investigated the relation between C-reactive protein haplotypes, representing the comprehensive variation of the C-reactive protein gene, and coronary heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Rotterdam Study is a prospective population-based study among men and women aged 55 years and older. C-reactive protein was associated with risk of coronary heart disease, with a multivariable adjusted hazard ratio of 1.9 (95% CI 1.5-2.4) for the highest vs. the lowest quartile. Four C-reactive protein haplotypes were present with overall frequencies of 32.8, 31.7, 29.5, and 5.9%. C-reactive protein serum levels were significantly different according to C-reactive protein haplotypes. C-reactive protein haplotypes were not associated with coronary heart disease. CONCLUSION: Steady-state C-reactive protein serum level is influenced by C-reactive protein gene haplotypes. Although elevated C-reactive protein level has lately been found to be a consistent and relatively strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease, our study does not support that the common variation in the C-reactive protein gene has a large effect on the occurrence of coronary heart disease.     

静脉应用胺碘酮治疗充血性心力衰竭并发的室性心动过速

目的　观察静脉注射胺碘酮治疗充血性心力衰竭并发的室性心动过速的有效性及安全性。方法　对 5 1例充血性心力衰竭并发持续性室性心动过速的患者首剂给予胺碘酮突击量 3～ 5mg/kg ,15min无效再重复突击量。维持量为 6 0 0mg胺碘酮稀释于 5 0 0ml生理盐水中静脉点滴 2 4h。结果　本组 0 5h内平均负荷量 (2 71 5± 82 8)mg ,第 1个 2 4h胺碘酮静脉用量平均 (916 5± 15 3 4)mg。总有效率 88 2 % ,不良反应发生率 15 9% ,无心功能恶化。结论　静脉注射胺碘酮治疗充血性心力衰竭并发的室性心动过速有效 ,也较安全