C-reactive protein and immunoglobulin-E response to coronary artery stenting in patients with stable angina

Recent reports indicate that inflammatory mechanisms play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and neointimal proliferation as well as coronary restenosis. To provide baseline data for further studies regarding stenting, restenosis and inflammatory response. we prospectively conducted a clinical study to investigate the time related response of plasma levels of immunoglobulin-E (IgE) and C-reactive protein (CRP) which are two different inflammatory markers mediated by different cytokines in stable patients who underwent elective coronary artery stenting. Thirteen consecutive stable patients who underwent coronary artery stenting were included in the study. Levels of IgE and CRP were determined pre- and poststent implantation on four consecutive days and at the end of the first as well as third month. Levels of these two markers were gradually elevated on postprocedure days while reaching peak values on the second and third days for IgE (initial 278 +/- 335 IU/mL vs peak 350 +/- 489 IU/mL, P = 0.01) and CRP (initial 0.5 +/- 0 mg/dL vs peak 2.7 +/- 3 mg/dL, P = 0.002), respectively. High levels gradually returned to baseline values determined at the end of the first and even third months after stent implantation implying an acute inflammatory reaction. Stent implantation seems not to cause any persistent and ongoing inflammatory response in the long-term.