Elevated Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines Predict Survival in Idiopathic and Familial Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a feature of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and increased circulating levels of cytokines are reported in patients with PAH. However, to date, no information exists on the significance of elevated cytokines or their potential as biomarkers. We sought to determine the levels of a range of cytokines in PAH and to examine their impact on survival and relationship to hemodynamic indexes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured levels of serum cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma and interleukin-1beta, -2, -4, -5, -6, -8, -10, -12p70, and -13) using ELISAs in idiopathic and heritable PAH patients (n=60). Concurrent clinical data included hemodynamics, 6-minute walk…

• NI
  National Institute for Health and Care Research
• BH
  British Heart Foundation
• NI
  Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
• MR
  Medical Research Council
• NC
  NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre