Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) and C-reactive protein (CRP) on left ventricular remodeling in patients with maintenance hemodialysis. Methods Sixty-four patients with maintenance hemodialysis were selected, who had undergone hemodialysis for more than three months and were in a stable clinic status without signs of acute infections or other progressive diseases. Serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF- were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by ultrasonic cardiography. Results The average serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF- and CRP were significantly higher in patients than those in the normal control group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). LAD, LVDd, IVST, LVPWT and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) increased significantly (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), while LVEF decreased markedly (P＜0.05). In patients with maintenance hemodialysis, the average serum IL-1β, IL-6, TNF- and CRP were positively correlated with the values of LVDd, LAD, LVPWT, IVST and LVMI (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), but negatively correlated with the value of LVEF (P＜0.05). The mean level of CRP was positively correlated with the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF- (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), and the mean level of TNF- was positively correlated with the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 (P＜0.05). Conclusion The inflammatory factors are probably involved in the presence and progression of left ventricular remodeling in patients with maintenance hemodialysis.

Key words: Interleukin, Tumor necrosis factor, Ventricular remodeling, Hemodialysis