Background: This researcher previously found that serum levels of some inflammatory cytokines are elevated in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hence, this study investigated the relationship between circulating levels of pro-anti-inflammatory cytokines, T-cell activation marker and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125) for the first time in obese Egyptian patients with heart failure (HF).
Material/Methods: This study included 60 HF patients, and 30 normal controls, with age range 50–70 years. HF patients were divided into 2 groups: non-obese mild HF according to clinical status (New York Heart Association Class) (NYHA class I/II) (n =20) and obese severe HF (NYHA class III/IV) (n=40). Serum pro-anti-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10), T-cell activation marker (sIL-2R/CD25), and CA 125; tumor marker were measured by ELISA.
Results: Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 as pro-anti-inflammatory cytokines, sIL-2R/CD25 as T-cell activation marker, and CA 125 as tumor marker were significantly higher in HF patients than in normal controls. Moreover, serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, sIL-2R/CD25, and IL-10, as well as CA 125 were significantly higher in the obese than in the non-obese mild HF patients. Correlation analysis showed that CA 125 was positively related to BMI, TNF-α, IL-6, and sIL-2R/CD25 in the HF patients group.
Conclusions: These findings show that CA 125 is markedly elevated in HF patients, and is correlated with serum TNF-α, IL-6, and sIL-2R/CD25 levels. Therefore, we can conclude that CA125, being a tumor marker, is closely related to the cytokine system.

Keywords: Lymphocyte Activation - immunology, Inflammation Mediators - blood, Hemodynamics, Heart Failure - physiopathology, Cytokines - blood, Case-Control Studies, CA-125 Antigen - blood, Obesity - immunology, T-Lymphocytes - immunology