The Relationship Between Serum Concentrations Of Interleukin-18 And Acute Coronary Syndrome

Objective: To examine the relation between serum concentrations of interleukin-18 (IL-18), the interferon gamma inducing factor, and clinical instability of coronary artery disease(acute coronary syndrome). Methods: Serum concentrations of IL-18 and interleukin-10(IL-10) were measured in 15 patients with stable angina pectoris(SAP), 30 patients with unstable angina pectoris(UAP) and negative troponin I, 17 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and 20 controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results: Serum concentrations of IL-18 were significantly higher in the unstable angina (105.14+30.49) pg/ml and AMI (118.76+38.65) pg/ml groups in comparison with the stable angina (83.88+21.79) pg/ml and controlgroups (81.94+32.94) pg/ml (p < 0.05, p <0.01 respectively), No difference in IL-18 concentrations were found between patients with unstable angina and patients with AMI. Conversely, serum concentrations of IL-10 were significantly lower in the unstable angina (36.83+2.41) pg/ml and AMI groups(35.77+2.38)pg/ml in comparison with the stable angina (39.68+3.03) pg/ml and control groups (42.07+3.97) pg/ml (p < 0.01).The concentrations of IL-18 were negatively correlated with anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10(r=-0.823).Conclusion: Serum IL-18 concentrations are increased in patients with acute coronary syndromes and may play an important roll in the instability of atherosclerotic plaque.