Anti-inflammatory action of diltiazem in patients with unstable angina

Plasma concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL10) have been shown to be decreased in patients with unstable angina (UA) suggesting that reduced concentrations of IL10 may favour plaque instability and the development of acute coronary syndromes. Diltiazem has been shown to exert beneficial effects in patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, the potential influence of diltiazem on the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL10 in patients with UA has not been investigated. This study was designed to find out the effects of diltiazem on IL10 in UA patients.

Thirty patients with UA were divided into two groups: group R and group D (n = 15). Group R was given routine pharmacotherapy for UA, and group D was given routine pharmacotherapy plus diltiazem. Plasma concentrations of IL10 in these groups were measured before the start of the treatment and 28 days after treatment. Plasma concentrations of IL10 in 15 normal subjects (group N) were also measured. Patients with UA had decreased concentrations of IL10 compared with normal group. Four weeks after treatment, plasma concentrations of IL10 significantly increased in group D compared with that before treatment, but the increase in IL10 values in group R was not significant.

These findings showed that concentrations of anti-inflammatory IL10 are considerably decreased in UA patients and diltiazem treatment leads to a significant increase in IL10 concentrations.