Role of soluble Fas ligand in myocardial remodeling, severity and outcomes of chronic heart failure

Abstract

Aim. To reveal the specific features of Fas ligand-mediated ischemic myocardial remodeling and those of chronic heart failure (CHF) development during a 12-month prospective follow-up. Subjects and methods. A total of 94 patients with ischemic CHF were examined and divided into 3 groups according to NYHA Functional Class (FC): 1) FC II CHF in 35 patients; 2) FC III CHF in 31; 3) FC IV CHF in 28. According to the results of the 12-month follow-up, the patients were randomized into 2 groups: A) 49 patients with a favorable course of cardiovascular disease and B) 45 patients with its poor course. Serum soluble Fas ligand (sFas-L) levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Results. In the patients with CHF, the baseline sFas-L levels substantially exceeded that in the control group by 3—6 times (p

Keywords

• heart failure
• coronary heart disease
• soluble fas ligand
• apoptosis