Further, a relationship between circulating levels of TNF-α and several parameters of RV failure, including severity of peripheral edema, RV ejection fraction and NYHA functional class, has been shown in patients with right heart failure related to ischemic heart disease or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (Odeh et al., 2006). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.