Serum interleukin-۱۸ and extent of coronary artery disease in unstable angina

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-۱۸ (IL-۱۸) is an inflammatory marker with challenging role in atherosclerosis. The present study was carried out aiming to evaluate the association between IL-۱۸ serum level and extent and severity of atherosclerosis among young patients with unstable angina (UA) who underwent coronary angiography.METHODS: This cross sectional study was performed from July to October ۲۰۱۵ in Chamran heart center, Isfahan, Iran. ۱۸۰ patients with UA in the age range of below ۵۰ years entered the study. All demographic, past history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) data were collected. Serum level of IL-۱۸ was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. A coronary angiography was performed on all patients to evaluate the presence and the incidence rate of coronary artery disease (CAD).RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was ۴۶.۰ ± ۴.۶ years [۴۷.۴ ± ۴.۳ and ۴۵.۹ ± ۴.۹ among patients with CAD and normal coronary, respectively (P = ۰.۰۴۰)]. Rate of severe CAD was greater among men compared to women with values ۶۷.۸% and ۵۱.۸%, respectively (P = ۰.۰۳۲). The median [interquartile range (IQR)] value of serum IL-۱۸ among patients with CAD [۱۹۲.۸۶ (۱۲۸.۰۳,۳۲۵.۷۵)] was higher than normal coronary subjects [۱۷۲.۸۱ (۱۳۹.۷۷,۲۴۳.۲۱)], however it was not significant (۱۹۸.۴ ± ۹۳.۵, P = ۰.۲۸۷). A significant difference between serum IL-۱۸ level and number of stenosis vessels was detected only among women (P = ۰.۰۳۲).CONCLUSION: Serum IL-۱۸ level can predict the number of coronary arteries with significant stenosis among women with unstable angina. 

Keywords:

Interleukin-۱۸ , Unstable Angina , Atherosclerosis