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Published on: January 28, 2020

Increased plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 concentrations in patients with slow coronary flow

Jian-Jun Li1, Xue-Wen Qin, Zi-Cheng Li

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Fu Wai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, People's Republic of China. lijnjn@yahoo.com.cn

Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry
|August 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Inflammation may play a role in slow coronary flow (SCF). Patients with SCF showed higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which correlated with reduced coronary flow.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Inflammation Research

Background:

  • Slow coronary flow (SCF) is detected during angiography without stenosis.
  • Inflammation is implicated in atherosclerosis.
  • The link between inflammation and SCF is unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if inflammatory markers are elevated in patients with SCF.

Main Methods:

  • 42 patients with SCF (using TIMI frame count) and 30 controls were studied.
  • Plasma levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured.
  • Commercial kits were used for plasma concentration evaluation.

Main Results:

  • No clinical differences were observed between groups.
  • SCF patients had higher CRP and IL-6 levels than controls (p < 0.01).
  • TIMI frame count positively correlated with CRP and IL-6 levels (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Elevated CRP and IL-6 levels are present in SCF patients.
  • These inflammatory markers correlate with reduced coronary flow.
  • Further research is needed to explore the role of inflammation in SCF pathogenesis.
Abstract

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