Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation of serum total bile acid (BA) with inflammatory cytokines and ventricular remodeling in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods A total of 82 patients with CHF were divided into mild group (NYHA grade Ⅱ, n=47) and moderate group (NYHA grade Ⅲ, n=35), according to the grade of cardiac function. A total of 32 subjects with normal physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group. Serum levels of BA, IL-6, TNF-α, pro-BNP, LVEDD and LVEF were measured respectively. Results There were significant differences in IL-6, TNF-α, BA, pro-BNP, LVEDD and LVEF between the three groups (all P＜0.05), which were significantly higher in CHF group than those of control group, and which were increased with the increase of cardiac function grade (P＜0.05). The value of LVEF was significantly lower in CHF group than that of control group, and which was decreased with the increase of cardiac function grade (P＜0.05). There were positive correlations between BA, IL-6, TNF-α, pro-BNP and LVEDD (P＜0.05). There was a negative correlation between BA and LVEF (P＜0.05). Conclusion Serum BA level is correlated with inflammation and ventricular remodel, and which has a certain reference value for the evaluation of cardiac function in elderly patients with CHF．

Key words: heart failure, ventricular remodeling, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, bile acid, inflammation