In the HF group of 31 patients (12 acute HF, 19 chronic HF) and 9 controls we also performed a Luminex array to determine the plasma level of 7 characteristic pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α). This evidence concerns the gene TNF and hydrops fetalis.