OBJECTIVE

To investigate the profile of circulating inflammatory markers after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with AMI or stable angina pectoris (AP).

METHODS

Twenty patients with AMI and 10 with stable AP were treated with PCI of a central coronary artery. Blood samples were drawn immediately before PCI, in the AP group and after 3 and 12 h, days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 in both groups.

RESULTS

Interleukin 6 increased in both groups to time-point 12 h and day 1 (peak), being significantly higher in the AMI group compared to the AP group at 3 and 12 h, and also at days 1 and 3. A similar profile was demonstrated for CRP with significantly higher levels in the AMI group at days 1, 3 and 5 compared to the AP group. A slightly different pattern was shown for Interleukin 10 (IL-10) with significantly higher levels in the AMI group at 3 and 12 h, days 1 and 14 compared to the AP group.

CONCLUSIONS

AMI patients treated with PCI experienced a marked short-term increase in pro-inflammatory mediators as well as IL-10 compared to patients with stable angina pectoris treated with PCI.