Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α are associated with quality of life-related symptoms in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Abstract

RATIONALE:

Inflammation is associated with symptoms in many chronic illnesses; however, this link has not been established in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVES:

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between inflammatory markers and quality of life-related symptoms in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. We hypothesized that higher circulating IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels would be associated with worse quality of life-related symptoms.

METHODS:

We performed a secondary analysis using baseline and 3-month assessments of 62 subjects in a clinical trial of aspirin and simvastatin to determine the association between plasma IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 subscales (pain, vitality, mental health).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

The mean age was 49.7±13.4 years; 87% were female. Higher IL-6 levels were significantly associated with lower Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 subscale scores, indicating worse bodily pain, vitality, and mental health (all P<0.01). Higher tumor necrosis factor-α levels were significantly associated with increased bodily pain, but better mental health scores.

CONCLUSIONS:

IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels are associated with certain quality of life domains in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00384865).

• Authors: Lea Ann Matura, Corey E Ventetuolo, Harold I Palevsky, David J Lederer, Evelyn M Horn, Stephen C Mathai, Diane Pinder, Christine Archer-Chicko, Emilia Bagiella, Kari E Roberts, Russell P Tracy, Paul M Hassoun, Reda E Girgis, Steven M Kawut
• Journal: Annals of the American Thoracic Society (Ann Am Thorac Soc) Vol. 12 Issue 3 Pg. 370-5 (Mar 2015) ISSN: 2325-6621 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25615959 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• IL6 protein, human
• Interleukin-6
• Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
• TNF protein, human
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Simvastatin
• Aspirin

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Aspirin (administration & dosage)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Chronic Disease
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Hypertension, Pulmonary (blood, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Prospective Studies
• Pulmonary Wedge Pressure (drug effects)
• Quality of Life
• Simvastatin (administration & dosage)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (blood)