Effects of Coronary Angioplasty on Inflammatory Markers and Lipid Profile in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Although atherosclerosis is a major cause of mortality, little is known about the role of inflammation, and mediators of disease progression. In this study, serum levels of inflammatory markers were evaluated in stable atherosclerotic disease patients before and by 24 hours after coronary angioplasty and stenting.

The study included 12 patients (eight women and four men) who underwent coronary angioplasty to implant a conventional wire-mesh cobalt-chromium stent. Changes in the lipid profile were investigated. The pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukine-17 (IL-17) were measured by enzyme immunoassays. All patients received statins and reported being hypercholesterolemic, hypertensive, and sedentary.

TNF-α and IL-17 levels did not differ significantly before and after angioplasty. The total leukocyte count had a significant reduction when compared before (7.6; 6.5-10.6cells/µL) and after (6.78;5.2-8.2cells/µL) angioplasty, although, on the other hand, the CRP levels increased from 2.5 (0.0-14.75) to 8.0 (0.75-31mg/dL) (p<0.05). Patients had significantly higher average total cholesterol before (160; 148-193) then after (155; 122-172mg/dL) (p=0.0038), as well as HDL-cholesterol, before (41; 30-49) and after (33; 32-42mg/dL) (p=0.0192), and apolipoprotein-A levels, before (159;133-169) and after, (143; 115-150 mg/dL) (p<0.05) procedure. On the other hand, no significant differences were noticed on LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein-B concentrations.

The angioplasty procedure with stent implantation influenced lipoprotein metabolism specifically that of HDL, by leading to HDL-c and apolipoprotein-A reductions, as well as total leukocyte count, and CRP elevations by 24 hours after procedure.