Inflammatory markers, angiographic severity of coronary artery disease, and patient outcome

Am J Cardiol. 2007 Apr 1;99(7):879-84. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2006.11.032. Epub 2007 Feb 12.

Abstract

Serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have been shown to be predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesized that measurement of inflammatory markers could predict atherosclerotic burden and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). We prospectively measured hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in 249 patients who were admitted with acute chest pain and underwent coronary angiography. We analyzed the relation between serum levels of inflammatory markers and angiographic severity of CAD. A follow-up at 6 months was conducted to assess MACEs, defined as a cumulative of myocardial infarction, all-cause death, or coronary revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass surgery). After adjusting for conventional CAD risk factors (age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and hypercholesterolemia), there was no association between inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) and angiographic severity of CAD. There was a significant positive correlation between age, male gender, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia with atherosclerotic burden determined by angiography. There was no significant positive association between MACEs and hs-CRP, IL-6, or TNF-alpha level in unadjusted and adjusted models. In conclusion, in patients hospitalized with chest pain, we found no association of serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, or TNF-alpha with coronary atherosclerotic burden or MACEs at 6 months after adjustment for traditional CAD risk factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Coronary Angiography*
  • Coronary Artery Bypass
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / complications
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / epidemiology
  • Coronary Artery Disease / therapy
  • Coronary Stenosis / blood
  • Coronary Stenosis / complications
  • Coronary Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Stenosis / epidemiology
  • Coronary Stenosis / therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / blood*
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / blood
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Regression Analysis
  • Research Design
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-6
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • C-Reactive Protein