Effect of exercise training on interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha and functional capacity in heart failure

Abstract

Background. We pooled data from four studies, to establish whether exercise training programs were able to modulate systemic cytokine levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). A second aim was to establish if differences in ExT regimens are related to degree of change in cytokines and peak VO2. Methods. Data from four centres relating to training protocol, exercise capacity, and cytokine measures (TNF-alpha and IL-6) were pooled for analysis. Results. Data for 106 CHF patients were collated (98 men, age 6210yrs, wt 7914Kg). Patients were moderately impaired (peak VO2 16.94.4mls/kg/min), with moderate LV systolic dysfunction (EF 306.9), 78 (83) had ischaemic cardiomyopathy. After ExT, peak VO2 increased 1.43.4ml/kg/min (P