Objective To explore whether the systemic level of pro-inflammatory factor interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 can reliably reflect their local levels at atherosclerosis lesions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Method 18 consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP), 21 consecutive patients with unstable angina pectoris/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI), 30 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 30 health patients as control group. Systemic samples were obtained from aorta root in all patients (n=99), local samples from distal of the coronary lesion in patients with CAD (n=69), and samples from coronary sinus of 15 patients with STEMI.

Results No significant difference at systemic level of IL-1β among the four groups (p=0.251), increased the systemic level of IL-10 in STEMI group than the control group (p=0.001), and no difference between the local and the systemic level in SAP group (p=0.864, 0.545). In the UA/STEMI group, the local level of IL-10 was increased compared with systemic level (p=0.043), but no difference of IL-1β was found (p=0.264). The local levels of IL-1β and IL-10 were both increased compared with systemic level in the STEMI group (p=0.003, 0.029 respectively). The level of IL-1β in coronary sinus tended to be decreased compared with culprit lesion (p=0.062), but the IL-10 showed no great changes (p=0.743).

Conclusions The systemic level of pro-inflammatory marker IL-1β and anti-inflammatory maker IL-10 could not complete reliablyreflect the local changesin patients with CAD. These findings may promote our understanding regarding pathogenesis of CAD and implications of findings from previous clinical observations.