SCIENTIFIC LETTER Time course of transcardiac interleukin-6 release after coronary stenting for stable angina

ytokines are known to play a critical role in the atherosclerotic process.1 The cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is involved in a variety of physiological functions ultimately leading to macrophage activation, platelet aggre-gation, and stimulation of matrix degrading enzymes. An increase in circulating concentrations of IL-6 and of its hepatic byproduct C reactive protein (CRP) has been reported in unstable angina2 and after percutaneous coronary inter-vention (PCI); high concentrations of IL-6 and CRP are considered to be markers of poor prognosis, probably related to the intensity of plaque inflammation. The present study was designed specifically to evaluate whether transmyocar-dial production of IL-6 could be measured immediately and within two hours of a successful elective PCI and stent implantation in stable patients