Th2-dependent cytokine release in patients treated with coronary angioplasty

AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the T helper (Th)2-dependent release of interleukin(IL)-4 and IL-13 in patients with unstable angina treated with coronary angioplasty (PCI). METHODS: This study involved 48 consecutive patients with unstable angina who underwent PCI. Blood samples were taken before and 48 h after PCI to evaluate serum IL-4 and IL-13 levels. Coronary atherosclerosis was assessed in terms of the severity of the treated lesions and the presence of multivessel disease, and compared with IL release. RESULTS: Before and after PCI, serum IL-4 levels were, respectively, 53.1+/-110.7 and 35.1+/-16.9 pg/ml (P not significant), and serum IL-13 levels 6.7+/-3.7 and 6.0+/-2.9 pg/ml (P<0.05). A correlation was present between the severity of the treated coronary lesions and serum IL-13 levels (r 0.36; P<0.05). The patients with multivessel coronary artery disease had a higher periprocedure ratio of IL-4 than those with single-vessel coronary artery disease (1.46+/-0.76 vs. 0.89+/-0.34, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: A significant decrease was observed in Th2-dependent IL concentrations after PCI; increased Th2-dependent IL levels before PCI seem to correlate with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.