[Levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum of patients with acute myocardial infarction].

In acute myocardial infarction may increase the synthesis of cytokines, which can enlarge the myocardial lesion owing to their direct toxic action on myocytes or induction of inflammatory changes that lead to myocardiofibrosis. All this may quickening the appearance of congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction. The aim of the study was examination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) plasma levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction and analysis of correlation between concentrations of these cytokines and myocardial lesions during infarction. The study was made in 94 patients admitted to the Department of Cardiology with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Of these, 40 were women aged from 41 to 85 (mean 67 years) and 54 were men aged from 39 to 86 (mean 63 years). Anterior AMI was diagnosed in 40 patients, inferior AMI was diagnosed in 54 patients. 63 patients underwent the thrombolytic therapy, reperfusion appeared in 45 patients, 24 patients were excluded from the thrombolytic therapy. Control group consisted of 28 healthy persons aged from 35 to 76 (mean 61 years). Blood samples for determination of TNF-alpha and IL-6 plasma levels were taken just after admission prior to the treatment. Then patients were taken streptokinase or tissue-type plasminogen activator with typical doses. Blood samples for determination of cytokines were obtained in 3. and 7. day after treatment. TNF-alpha and IL-6 plasma levels were determined with radioimmunological assay. Creatine kinase activity were monitored in patients with AMI as well as ejection fraction was checked in echocardiography in 3. and 7. day after treatment. We showed increased plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in patients with AMI with maximum in 3. day of infarction. Concentrations of cytokines were higher in patients with anterior AMI than in patients with inferior AMI. In anterior infarction concentrations of cytokines were significantly lower after thrombolytic therapy with reperfusion than after treatment without reperfusion. There is a correlation between infarct size and concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6.