Interleukin-6 is independently associated with right ventricular function in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Background An elevated serum level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in pulmonary arterial
hypertension (PAH) patients results in a greater symptom burden and increased mortality;
however, the mechanisms underlying these observations remain unclear. Because both pre-
clinical and clinical data associate elevated IL-6 levels with impaired cardiac function, we
hypothesized that the adverse effects of IL-6 in PAH result, in part, from right ventricular (RV)
dysfunction. Methods We analyzed the relationship between IL-6 and RV function in 40 …
hypertension (PAH) patients results in a greater symptom burden and increased mortality;
however, the mechanisms underlying these observations remain unclear. Because both pre-
clinical and clinical data associate elevated IL-6 levels with impaired cardiac function, we
hypothesized that the adverse effects of IL-6 in PAH result, in part, from right ventricular (RV)
dysfunction. Methods We analyzed the relationship between IL-6 and RV function in 40 …