Interferon-alpha does not cause significant cardiac dysfunction in patients with chronic active hepatitis

Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Acute Coronary Syndromes

BACKGROUND

Over the last decades, the role of inflammation and immune system activation in the initiation and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been established.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to present the interplay between cytokines and their actions preceding and shortly after ACS.

METHODS

We searched in a systemic manner the most relevant articles to the topic of inflammation, cytokines, vulnerable plaque and myocardial infarction in MEDLINE, COCHRANE and EMBASE databases.

RESULTS

Different classes of cytokines (intereleukin [IL]-1 family, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) family, chemokines, adipokines, interferons) are implicated in the entire process leading to destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque, and consequently, to the incidence of myocardial infarction. Especially IL-1 and TNF-α family are involved in inflammatory cell accumulation, vulnerable plaque formation, platelet aggregation, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and adverse remodeling following the myocardial infarction. Several cytokines such as IL-6, adiponectin, interferon-γ, appear with significant prognostic value in ACS patients. Thus, research interest focuses on the modulation of inflammation in ACS to improve clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the unique characteristics that accompany each cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction could illuminate the signaling pathways involved in plaque destabilization and indicate future treatment strategies to improve cardiovascular prognosis in ACS patients.

Effect of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Treatment by Combination Therapy on Cardiovascular System

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Egypt is quite high, and the combined oral direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) may have impressive results.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the cardiovascular effects of DAAs in patients with HCV.

METHODS

A total of 170 patients with HCV were divided into 2 groups: first group (100 patients) received triple combination therapy (pegylated interferon alfa, sofosbuvir, and ribavirin, whereas the second group (70 patients) received dual combination therapy (sofosbuvir and simeprevir). Group 1 patients were followed up for 1 year more than 3 visits, whereas group 2 patients were followed up for 6 months more than 2 visits; and the end point of the study was the development of a major cardiovascular event (eg, congestive heart failure, echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular dysfunction, occurrence of significant arrhythmias, or acute coronary syndrome). The following parameters were accomplished: medical history and clinical examination, electrocardiogram, echo-Doppler study, and laboratory investigations.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between the 2 study groups regarding demographic criteria. None of the both group patients had developed any major cardiac event. No significant changes were observed regarding ST-T wave abnormalities, arrhythmias, or QT interval. None of the both group patients developed echocardiographic regional wall motion abnormalities at baseline or at study end. Systolic function parameters showed minute nonsignificant changes over study visits. Diastolic function parameters showed nonsignificant changes between baseline and 6-month and 12-month visits.

CONCLUSIONS

The DAAs used in combination regimen with interferon or used orally in combination do not significantly affect the cardio-vascular system.

The Use of Interferons in the Treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Interferons are polypeptides that naturally occur in the human body as a part of the innate immune response. By harnessing these immunomodulatory functions, synthetic interferons have shown efficacy in combating various diseases including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This article closely examines the qualities of interferon alfa and interferon gamma and the evidence behind their use in the 2 most common types of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, namely, mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.

Is combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C toxic for cardiac function?

BACKGROUND

Many types of cardiovascular complications such as; cardiac arrhythmias, impaired cardiac function, myocardial ischemia and decreased left ventricular function, have been attributed to interferon therapy.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of combination therapy pegylated interferon and ribavirin on left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions in patients with a chronic hepatitis C infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 120 patients, eligible for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, were included in this study. All patients underwent a full cardiovascular baseline examination including; detailed medical history, thorough clinical examination, 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiography. A cardiac evaluation was performed at the beginning and six months after starting combination therapy.

RESULTS

No significant changes regarding cardiac symptoms including; shortness of breath, cough, palpitations, chest pain and hypertension, were found during or six months after starting the combined therapy. ECG findings showed statistically non-significant decreases in the QT interval, while corrected QT showed statistically non-significant increases six months after beginning combined therapy, when compared to their values before treatment. Also with regard to the echocardiography findings, there was no statistically significant difference found between any of the echocardiography parameters six months after starting combined therapy compared to their values before treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study suggest that, combination therapy does not cause a significant deterioration in cardiac function in patients with a chronic hepatitis C infection, and it may be used safely in patients without cardiac disease.

Cytokine-induced depression during IFN-alpha treatment: the role of IL-6 and sleep quality

Depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and systemic markers of inflammation (e.g., interleukin (IL)-6) are frequently associated. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy results in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in some people, offering the possibility to elucidate the relationship of MDD to sleep and inflammation during treatment. In particular, delineating the temporal relations among these factors could help inform their causal relationships. To this end, a cohort of 95 non-depressed hepatitis C patients was followed prospectively for four consecutive months during IFN-alpha therapy. We found that higher pre-treatment levels of circulating IL-6 predicted incidence of MDD (X(2)(1)=7.7; p<0.05). Time-lagged mixed-effect analyses supported uni-directional associations in which IL-6 predicted next month's PSQI scores (F(47,11.6)=78.4; p<0.0005), and PSQI scores predicted next month's depressive Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI) scores (F(16,22.6)=3.4; p<0.005). In addition, on any given month of treatment, IL-6 levels predicted BDI symptoms the following month (F(16,97.5)=7.3; p<0.0005), and conversely BDI predicted next month's IL-6 (F(14,7.4)=5.2; p<0.05) - providing evidence for a positive feedback relationship between depressive symptoms and systemic inflammation. These data provide further evidence that high levels of inflammation and poor sleep quality may be risk factors for IFN-alpha induced depression. Furthermore, these findings highlight the complex temporal relationships that exist among sleep, depression, and inflammation, and support the need for further prospective investigations to elucidate the dynamics that underlie depression during IFN-alpha treatment.

Recombinant interferon alpha treatment decreases heart rate variability indices and impairs exercise tolerance in patients with chronic hepatitis

Complications of interferon (IFN) therapy include cardiac arrhythmias, impaired cardiac function and myocardial ischemia. Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) indices, impaired exercise tolerance and decreased left ventricular (LV) function are related to unfavorable outcome of heart disease. To investigate the effect of IFN therapy on HRV, exercise tolerance and cardiac function, 24-h ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (AECG), two-dimensional echocardiography, and exercise treadmill testing (ETT) was performed in 9 patients (age 56 +/- 9 years-old) with chronic hepatitis and without underlying heart disease before and after treatment with IFN (recombinant alpha 2b; 10 x 10(6) U/day for 4 weeks). HRV parameters consisted of standard deviation of RR interval (sdNN, ms), SDANN (ms), S.D. index (ms), rMSSD (ms), pNN50 (%) and frequency analysis of heart rate spectrum resulted in low (ms, 0.04-0.15 Hz), high (ms, 0.15-0.40 Hz) and total (ms, 0.01-1.00 Hz) frequency components. Ischemia was not detected by AECG or ETT, and LV function was normal after INF treatment in all patients. However, INF treatment resulted in a decrease in exercise tolerance time (449 +/- 94 s vs. 329 +/- 67 s, P < 0.05) and a decrease in several HRV parameters (S.D. index, 42 +/- 5 ms vs. 37 +/- 9 ms; rMSSD, 22 +/- 5 ms vs. 19 +/- 4 ms; pNN50, 4 +/- 3% vs. 2 +/- 1%; P < 0.05). Further, patients treated with INF tended to have a lower sdNN and total frequency spectra, although this difference did not reach the level of statistical significance. These data suggest that the arrhythmogenic effect of INF may be mediated by decreases in HRV and impairment of exercise tolerance even in patients without overt heart diseases. Further, INF therapy may be contraindicated in patients with predisposing severe cardiac disorders, including arrhythmias, ischemia and decreased LV function.