Relationship Between The Carotid Plaque And Serum High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein, Interleukin-6 Levels In Patients With Acute Cerebral Infraction

Objective To investigate the relationship between carotid piaque and serumhigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)levels,the interleukin-6 levels inpatients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).Methods Carotid duplex examination was performed in 180 patients with ACI byan Advanced Technology Laboratories HX (Image Point HX) triplex system. Serumhigh-sensitivity CRP was measured by latex-enhanced immunonephelometric methodand the interleukin-6 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbentassay(ELISA) methed. Results of carotid ultrasonography were divided into two groups:M1: normal(IMT＜1.2mm=and M2:abnormal (IMT≥1.2mm).Results The mean age of M2 group(62±9) was significantly older than that ofM1 group (51±10, P＜0.01). The patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitusin M2 group(69%,35%) was significantly more than that of M1group(52%,P＜0.05; 18 %,P＜0.05). there were no significant difference between the serum lipoproteinof M2 and M1 group(P＞0.05). The number of patient with elevated CRP levels wasincreased in the M2 group(53/78 cases) to M1 group (48/102 cases, P＜0.05). Thehs-CRP concentrations were higher in the M2 group[(27.8±6.4) mg/L] than that in inthe M1 group[(20.7±5.8) mg/L, P＜0.01. Furthermore; The hs-CRP concentrationswere higher in patients with unstable plaque than that in patients with stable plaque:37.5±7.2mg/L (range, 1.8-165 mg/L) versus (24.9±6.3 ) mg/L (range, 0.3-56 mg/L)(P＜0.01). The IL-6 concentrations were higher in patients with plaque group M2 (0.22±0.06) than in patients with normol group M1 (0.20±0.08)(P＜0.05).Conclusions Both elevated interleukin-6 levels and hs-CRP levels, especially thelater, have a significant clinical index for the existence and character of carotid plaquein patients with ACI.