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Abstract

Introduction: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is an inflammatory process, two circulating markers of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6, have emerged as predictors of future cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to study the changes of Interleukin-6 in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its correlation with CRP, cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Methods: The study included sixty patients admitted by ACS who randomly categorized into three equal groups of 20 patients, Group I: unstable angina, Group II: ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) with successful thrombolytic therapy, Group III: ST segment elevation MI with failed thrombolytic therapy and Group IV as twelve healthy controls. Blood levels of IL-6, CRP and cTnI were measured. Results: IL-6 was significantly higher in group II with successful thrombolytic therapy with mean level of 54 pg/ml, and in group III with failed thrombolytic therapy the mean level was 52.36 pg/ml compared to unstable angina group and control group [p value <0.001*]. There was a positive correlation between IL-6 and CRP levels in group I [r = 0.385, p = 0.094] and group II [r = 0.166, p = 0.483] but statistically not significant compared to group III who failed thrombolytic therapy where there was statistically significant correlation [r = 0.638, p = 0.0002]. IL-6 CRP was significantly increased in group III with mean of 84.25 mg\l. [p value =0.0001*]. Conclusions: IL-6 serum level was significantly increased in patients with ACS patients with successful thrombolytic therapy and there was a statistically significant positive correlation between IL-6 and CRP in ACS patients with failed thrombolytic therapy, IL-6 serum levels did not correlate with cTnI levels in all ACS patient groups.