Stent implantation, but not pathogen burden, is associated with plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable angina pectoris

Background The systemic inflammatory response to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with recurrent cardiac events; however, the pathophysiology of this inflammatory response is not well understood. The present study was performed to investigate the role of pathogen burden of infection in determining the magnitude of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) response to PCI. Methods One hundred patients with stable angina pectoris undergoing elective PCI at a single center were recruited. Antibodies against cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Epstein-Barr virus, Helicobacter pylori, and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 were determined before PCI. Plasma CRP and IL-6 levels were measured before and 6, 24, 48, 72 hours after PCI and data presented as area under the curve. Results Plasma CRP and IL-6 concentrations increased significantly after PCI. Neither antibodies against single nor multiple pathogens were associated with the CRP or IL-6 response to PCI. No correlations were found between the inflammatory markers and troponin T levels after PCI. With the exception for CRP and body mass index (R = 0.20, P < .05), neither risk factors for coronary heart disease nor medication but stent implantation was associated with increased plasma CRP (76 vs 61 mg/L, P < .005) and IL-6 (74 vs 64 pg/mL, P < .005) levels after PCI. Conclusion Stent implantation, but not pathogen burden, is associated with the plasma CRP and IL-6 response to PCI.