Close Association of Regional Interleukin-6 Levels in the Infarct-Related Culprit Coronary Artery With Restenosis in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background The involvement of interleukin (IL)-6 in restenosis of the recanalized coronary artery after the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was examined. Methods and Results There were 40 patients enrolled in the study who had acute myocardial infarction and whose infarct-related coronary arteries were treated by new thrombectomy devices and stenting. Blood samples were collected from the culprit coronary artery before and immediately after the maneuver of the PCI. Restenosis was defined as residural stenosis because it accounted for more than 50% at the follow-up coronary angiography. Plasma IL-6 levels in the infarct-related coronary artery were 12.8 and 13.2pg/ml before and after the initial maneuver of the PCI, respectively, values that were significantly greater than that of 7.2pg/ml in the peripheral vein (p<0.0001). The levels of IL-6 in the pre- and the post-stage of PCI were significantly greater in the patients with restenosis than those without restenosis. The plasma IL-6 levels in the post-stage of PCI had significant correlations with late loss and loss index. Conclusions The present study findings indicate that plasma IL-6 levels in the culprit coronary artery at the post-stage of PCI are closely associated with the future restenosis of the revasculized coronary artery in acute myocardial infarction.