Inflammatory Cytokine Imbalance after Coronary Angioplasty: Links with Coronary Atherosclerosis

AIM: To investigate release of some inflammatory cytokines (Cys) after coronary angioplasty and its links with coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in the study: serial blood samples were taken in order to evaluate plasma concentrations of Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, IL-18, TNFalpha, and IFNgamma just before PCI at 12 and 24 hours. Patients were then divided, considering balance between each inflammatory Cy and IL-10, an antiinflammatory Cy, into four groups, ranging from a prevalent antiinflammatory response (stable inflammatory Cy-increasing IL-10 values) to a marked inflammatory imbalance (increasing inflammatory Cy-stable IL-10 values). RESULTS: All Cys showed significant increases in plasma concentrations if compared with baseline values. Release curves were not significantly different when comparing subjects with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) versus unstable angina-non-STEMI (UA-NSTEMI), diabetics versus controls. Subjects with marked inflammatory response showed a higher incidence of stenosis on left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery (IL-2 chi(2) and IFNgamma P < 0.05); Cy release was higher in patients with multivessel coronary disease (IL-2 and IFNgamma, ANOVA P < 0.01). Correlations were also referable between Cys and myocardial enzyme release. Subjects treated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) showed significantly lower Cy periprocedure ratio if compared with those treated with bare metal stents. CONCLUSIONS: A significant Cy release is detectable after PCI: inflammatory response seems to correlate with both PCI due to plaque instabilization and coronary atherosclerosis. A blunted inflammatory response is detectable in subjects treated with SES.