ABSTRACT
The results of recent studies favor the immunological theory of the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure (CHF). In this connection, of particular interest is a search for possible causes of cytokine hyperactivation in patients with CHF of ischemic etiology, one of which may be viral infection. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of herpesvirus simplex (HVS), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Chlamydia pneumoniae on the activation of cytokines in patients with CHF of ischemic etiology. Ninety patients with CHF of ischemic etiology were examined. After comprehensive study, the patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) Functional Class (FC) I-II CHF and 2) FC III-IV CHF Increases in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma and in the content of IgG and IgM to CMV and IgM to HVS were ascertained in patients with CHF of ischemic etiology. There were statistically significant correlations of the level of proinflammatory cytokines, CMV, and HVS with the FC of CHF and the echocardiographic indicators reflecting left ventricular systolic function.