Inflammatory Markers and Carotid Intima Media Thickness (C-IMT) in Stable IHD Patients

Objectives: -to explore the role of a cohort of soluble markers among them and in relation to C-IMT changes in a two years follow-up; -to evaluate the effect of a two years moderate dose atorvastatin treatment on time modifications both of markers and C-IMT. Methods: MIAMI is an open, multicenter, independent study. 86 stable IHD patients, were scheduled to receive atorvastatin (20 mg/daily) for 24 months. VCAM, ICAM, E-selectins, IL-6, -8, -10, -18, TNF-, hs-CRP, MMP-9, TF, TFPI, CD40-L, vWF, Fg, TC, HDL, LDL, TG, urinary isoprostanes were measured at 0, 12 and 24 months, in parallel with C-IMT measured blindly by computerised determination. Results: TC and LDL levels were at upper limits, whereas HDL and TG were normal. Levels of markers did not significantly correlate with traditional risk factors. HDL was negatively correlated with ICAM-1 (p<0.0001), sVCAM-1 p<0.05), E-selectin (p<0.05), hs-CRP (p<0.05), IL-6 (p<0.059), whereas TG positively correlated with sICAM-1 (p<0.001), E-selectin (p<0.05), TF (p<0.05), TFPI (p<0.05) and CD40-L (p