THE ROLE OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA (TNF-Α) IN CHRONIC RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Chronic rheumatic heart disease (CRHD) remains one of the most common causes of acquired heart defects in children, especially in developing countries. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, plays a crucial role in mediating immune and inflammatory responses in rheumatic fever and its chronic outcomes. Elevated TNF-α levels reflect the degree of myocardial and valvular inflammation, which contributes to the progression of cardiac lesions. Assessing TNF-α concentrations in the blood may improve diagnosis, monitoring, and therapeutic management of CRHD.