ASSESSMENT OF INTERLEUKIN-6 IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

Abstract

Acute coronary syndrome is a major health problem and a significant cause for sudden death allover the world. As a response to endothelial injury, a focal inflammatory response arises which can lead to plaque rupture and consecutive acute coronary syndrome. Elevated levels of acute phase proteins and cytokines particularly IL-6 and C-reactive protein are strong predictors of the risk in patients with acute attacks. The aim of this work was to study serum IL-6 levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome and correlate the results to patient outcome. Serum samples were collected from 36 patients with acute coronary events (18 having acute myocardial infarction and 18 patients are diagnosed as unstable angina). Two serum samples were taken from each patient, one at admission and another follow up sample 48 hours later. A third group of patients with stable angina were included in the study which comprised 11 patients; one serum sample was collected from each patient in this group. Serum IL-6 levels were measured by ELISA technique, a statistically insignificant difference was found when IL-6 mean values were measured on admission and 48 hours later when compared in group I (patients with myocardial infarction) as well as in group II (patients with unstable angina). Also a statistically insignificant difference was found between IL-6 values in myocardial infarction patients at the two time points (admission and 48 hours later) and the control group (stable angina) with higher mean values in patients with myocardial infarction. The same results are also observed when comparing group II

(unstable angina) with the control group. A statistically significant