Impact of apoptosis on the nature of chronic heart failure

The relationship of soluble apoptosis mediators Fas-ligand (sFas-L) in the serum with the severity and nature of chronic heart failure in patients with coronary heart disease was evaluated. We examined 94 patients with CHF. The control group included 32 people who did not have cardio-vascular disorders. At the beginning and in 12 months of observation the level of soluble Fas-ligand in the blood serum was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis. The level of sFas-L in the serum of patients with CHF increased according to progression of disease. So, the higher functional class of patients initially was, the higher was level of sFas-L. In the group with an unfavorable course of the disease initial level of sFas-L was higher than in the group with a favorable course. In patients with a favorable course of the disease level of sFas-L by the end of the observation had a tendency to decrease, whereas in patients with an unfavorable course, however, it was significantly increased. The interrelation of the levels of soluble Fas-ligand in the serum with the severity and course of CHF was fixed. Determination of the level of sFas-L a in the serum can be recommended for early prediction of severity and nature of CHF.