Korean J Med.  2008 Jan;74(1):51-58.

Correlation between inflammatory markers and the progression of atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease

• Bae JH
• Park JS
• Hong GR
• Shin DG
• Kim YJ
• Shim BS

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease (CAD). A small number of recent studies reported anti-inflammatory therapy achieved a reduction of CAD progression. The aim of the present study was to explore the roles of inflammatory markers and the conventional risk factors for CAD progression.
METHODS
One hundred and fifty patients (58+/-10 years, 112 men) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and follow-up angiography (mean duration, 7.5+/-2.0 months) were enrolled in this study. On comparison of the coronary angiographic findings, the patients were divided into the progression and non-progression groups. The serologic inflammatory markers were angiography measured at the time of follow up. The clinical characteristic and inflammatory markers were compared between the two groups and the independent predictors of CAD progression were analyzed. CAD progression was defined as more than 30% diameter reduction of a pre-existing luminal stenosis.
RESULTS
CAD progression occurred in 32 patients (21.3%). The frequency of diabetes mellitus (37.5% versus 19.5%, respectively, p=0.033) and the number of the disease vessels (p=0.003) were higher in the CAD progression group. In terms of the inflammatory markers, the progression patients had higher hsCRP (p=0.023), MCP-1 (p=0.036), sVCAM-1 (p=0.000), sP-selectin (p=0.000) and sCD40L (p=0.001) levels. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the variables showed that the logCRP (relative risk (RR) 5.016, CI=1.384-18.177, p=0.014) logVCAM-1 (RR 11.854, CI=1.883-74.614, p=0.008) and triple vessel disease of the coronary arteries (RR 5.037, CI=1.550-16.350, p=0.007) were independent predictors of CAD progression.
CONCLUSION
In the present study, the extent of coronary artery disease and inflammatory markers like hsCRP and VCAM-1 were independent predictors for the progression of atherosclerotic lesions.

Keyword

Cell adhesion molecules; Inflammation; Coronary disease

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Atherosclerosis
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cell Adhesion Molecules
Constriction, Pathologic
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Disease
Coronary Vessels
Diabetes Mellitus
Follow-Up Studies
Glycosaminoglycans
Humans
Inflammation
Logistic Models
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Phenobarbital
Risk Factors
Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
Cell Adhesion Molecules
Glycosaminoglycans
Phenobarbital
Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1