Heart Failure in Chronic Infectious and Inflammatory Conditions: Mechanistic Insights from Clinical Heterogeneity

Abstract

Purpose of Review: The balance between inflammation and its resolution plays an important and increasingly appreciated role in heart failure (HF) pathogenesis. In humans, different chronic inflammatory conditions and immune-inflammatory responses to infection can lead to diverse HF manifestations. Reviewing the phenotypic and mechanistic diversity of these HF presentations offers useful clinical and scientific insights. Recent Findings: HF risk is increased in patients with chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders and relates to disease severity. Inflammatory condition–specific HF manifestations exist and underlying pathophysiologic causes may differ across conditions. Summary: Although inflammatory disease–specific presentations of HF differ, chronic excess in inflammation and auto-inflammation relative to resolution of this inflammation is a common underlying contributor to HF. Further studies are needed to phenotypically refine inflammatory condition–specific HF pathophysiologies and prognoses, as well as potential targets for intervention.