Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between higher-risk features of coronary plaque and serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family enzymes in the stable angina patients.
Methods and results: In 36 patients, 75 coronary lesions were assessed by intravascular ultrasound. For each of the plaques remodelling index, mean calcium arc and plaque burden were measured. Positive remodelling and the values of the calcium arc and plaque burden above the respective medians were regarded as the higher-risk features and summarised for each lesion. Serum levels of MMP-2, -3, -7, -9, and tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1 and -2 were measured in all patients. TIMP-1 level was the independent predictor of presence of a lesion with positive remodelling (OR 1.032; 95% CI: 1.004-1.061) and of a lesion with higher plaque burden (OR 1.026; 95% CI: 1.003-1.049) in a given patient. Whereas, MMP-2 level was an independent predictor of presence of a lesion with higher calcium arc (OR 1.035; 95% CI: 1.001-1.071). TIMP-1 level (p=0.003) was also an independent predictor of a number of higher-risk features in the highest-risk plaque in a given patient.
Conclusions: TIMP-1 level correlates with clustering of plaque features associated with higher risk of complications in stable angina patients.