Table 1.

Randomized clinical studies evaluating immuno-modulating/anti-inflammatory treatments in CHF patients as discussed in the manuscript

Therapeutic intervention	Study	Patient number	Mean EF	NYHA status	Etiology	Main outcome
TNF-α binding
Etanercept	[32]	18	23/29 %	III	Mixed	Improved functional parameters and EF
	[15]	47	16–21 %	III–IV	Mixed
	[96]	2,048	22–24 %	III–IV	Mixed	Improved EF and remodeling parameters
Infliximab	[25]	150	23–25 %	III–IV	Mixed	Combined analysis of RECOVER and RENAISSANCE trials: no effect on clinical composite endpoint
						No clinical improvement, combined risk of death from any cause or hospitalization for heart failure increased in subgroup
Prednisone	[108]	102	18 %	nd	DCM	Transient improvement in EF
Prednisone + azathioprine	[150]	202	24 %	II–IV	DCM	Improved secondary endpoint of LV volume and EF
	[48]	85	27 %	II–IV	Virus-negative myocarditis	Improved EF and NYHA class
Thalidomide	[55]	56	25 %	II–III	Mixed	Improved EF
Rosuvastatin	[77]	5,011	31/33 %	II–IV	Mixed	No effect of primary combined endpoint
	[134]	4,631	33 %	II–IV	Mixed	No effect of primary combined endpoint
Pentoxifylline	[119]	39	24/25 %	II–III	DCM	Improved functional status after 6 months
	[120]	49	23 %	II–III	DCM	Improved functional class, and EF
	[122]	28	25/22 %	II–III	DCM	Improved EF and functional status
	[123]	18	13/16 %	IV	DCM	Improved EF
	[124]	38	23/27 %	II–III	ICM	Functional improvement
Isosorbide dinitrate + hydralazine	[135]	1,050	24 %	III–IV	Mixed	Improved composite endpoint in African–Americans. Study terminated prematurely for early benefit
Vitamin E	[74]	56	23 %	III–IV	Mixed	No clinical improvement, no effect on markers of oxidative stress after 12 weeks on treatment
Autologous modified blood	[144]	75	22 %	III–IV	Mixed	Reduced mortality and risk of hospitalization after 6 months
Polyunsaturated fatty acids	[133]	7,046	33 %	II–IV	Mixed	Improved composite endpoint
	[104]	43	24 %	III–IV	Non-ICM	Dose-dependent improved EF
Immuno-adsorption	[126]	22	28/27 %	III–IV	DCM	Improved EF, without control group
Immunoglobulins	[52]	40	26/28 %	II–III	Mixed	Improved EF
	[101]	62	25 %	I–IV	DCM, myocarditis	No change in EF
Intracoronary progenitor cells	[7]	92	43/39/41 %	I–III	ICM	Improved EF 3 months after infusion of bone marrow derived cells
	[111]	109	27 %	II–IV	ICM	Improved functional status and EF 12 months after infusion of bone marrow derived cells
	[148]	110	24/26 %	III	DCM	Improved functional status and EF after 5 years of infusion of CD34+ cells

If mean EF was not equal, EF for placebo/treatment groups were indicated

nd not determined, ICM ischemic cardiomyopathy, DCM dilative cardiomyopathy