TNF and hydrops fetalis: Rats treated with TNF-α (dosage reflecting levels in HF patients) presented with time-dependent changes in LV dimension accompanied by a progressive degradation of the ECM [51] and in an experimental rat model with streptozotocin-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy, a monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) as well as an interleukin converting enzyme (ICE) inhibitor protected from myocardial inflammation and fibrosis [53, 54].