[Disturbances in the cytokine system and oxidative stress in patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency].

A total of 99 patients with systolic chronic cardiac insufficiency (CCI) of NYHA functional class II-III (ejection fraction below 45%) were examined to evaluate cytokine activities, levels of oxidative stress markers and BNP fragment of brain natriuretic peptide. Patients aged 65-75 yr (group 2) had much higher levels of IL-1-beta, FNO-a, and malonic aldehyde than 26-56 year-old ones (group 1). The latter had a higher catalase activity. It is concluded that elderly patients with CCI develop more pronounced inflammatory reaction manifest as elevated C-reactive protein level, activated cytokine system, and endothelial dysfunction due to a longer history of the disease, higher frequency of ischemic etiology of CCI, and impaired NO-production in endothelium.