Endocrine Abstracts

Background: There is growing evidence that adhesion molecules, proinflammatory cells and cytokines play an important role in a variety of cardiac pathophysiological conditions; Cytokines are responsible for the modulation of immune and inflammatory processes. It has been suggested that cytokines such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF alpha are important modulators of atherosclerotic effects with IL-2 and Interferon γ having a proinflammatory atherogenic effect and IL-8 and IL-10 having an anti-inflammatory protective role. Atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary vessels are heavily infiltrated by cellular components associated with inflammation (macrophages/monocytes, t-lymphocytes, eosynophils and NK-cells). These cells are also a source of cytokines and that is why the Objective of the present study was to measure IL-2 and IL_8 concentration in serum patients with stable ishaemic heart disease (i.h.d.).

Patients and method: 26 patients (11 women, 15 men) age 47–65 years with diagnosed stable ischaemic heart disease were included into study. The control group consists of 20 patients matched with age and sex. All patients from examined group fulfilled the inclusion criteria (stable i.h.d. with standard treatment, rest ECG without ischaemic changes and with coronary sufficiency belongs to I or II class of CCS- (Canadian Cardiovascular Society scale).The exclusion criteria were typical for the study concerns cytokines.

In all patients we have measured the concentration of IL-2 and IL-8 concentration in serum by ELISA using R&D System kits

Additionally, patients with diagnosed i.h.d. had IL-2 and IL-8 concentration measured after the stress test done to assume the cardiac sufficiency in that group.

Results: Concentration of IL-2 and IL-8 in patients with i.h.d. is significantly higher then in the control group (P<0.05). After stress test in i.h.d. patients there were no significant changes of IL -2 concentration (P=0.054) and increase of IL-8 (P<0.001) concentration observed.