The role of cytokines in septic myocardial dysfunction: a translational systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
This translational review supports a cytokine-mediated contribution to septic myocardial dysfunction.
Study context
- Population
- Sepsis (cellular, animal and human studies assessing cytokine modulation and myocardial contractility)39 studies
- Comparison
- Cytokine addition or blockade vs control
- Outcome
- Myocardial contractility
Methodological detailsrandom-effects model
- Random-effects model
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Cardiomyocyte contractility reduction after cytokine exposure (in vitro/ex vivo, 11 studies)
SMD (CI)
IL-1
5.62(5.01–6.23)
IL-6
4.24(1.49–6.99)
TNF-α
4.45(3.17–5.72)
Further pooled results
Cardiac depression in in vivo animal studies (6 in meta-analysis)
| SMD (CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| TNF-α | 5.06 (1.46–8.65) | |
| IL-18 | 1.56 (0.77–2.36) | |
| IL-1 | 2.58 (−0.90 to 6.07) | |
| −50510Difference (linear scale) |
Circulating cytokine levels, patients with septic myocardial dysfunction vs controls (4 human studies in meta-analysis)
| SMD (CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| IL-6 | 0.51 (0.06–0.97) | |
| IL-1 | 0.67 (0.11–1.23) | |
| IL-8 | 0.59 (0.35–0.83) | |
| IL-10 | 0.57 (0.34–0.80) | |
| TNF-α | 0.63 (−0.02 to 1.28) | |
| −1012Difference (linear scale) |
Cytokine-targeting therapies (2 small interventional studies)
- Suggested potential benefits
Original publication
The role of cytokines in septic myocardial dysfunction: a translational systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intensive Care. Published 22 January 2026. doi:10.
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