Serum biomarkers and source of inflammation in acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary interventions

There is robust information that confirms the enormous contribution of inflammation to plaque development, progression and vulnerability. The presence of plaques with inflammatory components associates with a greater likelihood of future cardiovascular events. The inflammatory cascade has been implicated during the entire plaque formation, from the early stages of endothelial dysfunction to the development of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The presence of macrophages, T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and mast cells in atherosclerotic lesions; the detection of HLA class II antigen expression; and the finding of secretion of several cytokines point to the involvement of immune inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Serum biomarkers reflecting the activity of biological processes involved in plaque growth or destabilization may provide great help in establishing the appropriate clinical management, and therapeutic interventions. Evidence for a role of inflammation in plaque rupture has been demonstrated by localization of inflammation at plaque rupture sites. However, the focus of inflammation may not precisely reside within the coronary vessel itself but rather in the injured myocardium distal to the disrupted plaque. These observations outline the potential benefits of therapies targeting inflammation in the arterial wall and cardiovascular system. Emerging anti-inflammatory approaches to vascular protection have the potential to benefit patients by marked reductions in serum biomarkers of inflammation and reduce vascular events. With ongoing technical advances, percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) will continue to play a critical role in the evaluation of novel compounds designed to modulate inflammation. The constant refinements in the different therapeutic strategies, the combination of scientific understanding in the adequate utilization of novel inflammatory markers, the new pharmacologic agents, and the new techniques in PCI will ameliorate our therapeutic management in ACS based on medical evidence.