Plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 and their relationship with left ventricular diastolic function in patients with stable angina pectoris and preserved left ventricular systolic performance.

AIMS: The role of inflammation--a key factor underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) and systolic heart failure--in promotion of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has not been investigated extensively so far. The aim of this study was: (i) to evaluate plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 in patients with stable CAD and preserved LV systolic function and (ii) to assess their relationships with LV diastolic function.

METHODS: The study population consisted of 126 patients with single vessel and 58 patients with multivessel stable CAD and LV ejection fraction >50%, and 39 healthy controls. Each participant underwent echocardiographic study including estimation of LV diastolic function indices: peak velocities of early (E) and late (A) transmitral flows, deceleration time of E wave, isovolumic relaxation time, E wave (ETT) and A wave (ATT) transit time to the LV outflow tract, and flow propagation velocity of E wave (Ep). Plasma TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were evaluated by radioimmunometric method.

RESULTS: Patients with CAD presented higher TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels and higher values of IL-6/IL-10 and TNF-alpha/IL-10 ratio than the controls. IL-6 levels were higher in patients with multivessel disease than in those with single vessel disease. Significant correlations (all P<0.001) were found for TNF-alpha and Ep (r=-0.41), E/Ep (r=0.45), and ETT (r=0.38). IL-6 correlated with Ep (r=-0.39) and E/A (r=-0.33), whereas IL-10 with ETT (r=0.37), Ep (r=-0.44), and E/Ep (r=0.46).

CONCLUSION: In patients with stable CAD and preserved LV systolic performance, plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 are elevated and there is association between immunoinflammatory activation reflected by plasma levels of cytokines and LV diastolic dysfunction.