Objectives To detect the serum level of interleukin 18 (IL-18) and high sensitive C- reactive protein (hs-CRP) and evaluate its clinical significance in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods From January 2011 to January 2013, totally 112 elderly patients with AMI, 67 males and 45 females, age 60 to 86 (mean 65.6 ± 5.8), were selected as AMI group. 113 cases of healthy elderly people were selected as control group. IL18 and hs-CRP were detected in fasting venous blood in the early morning from healthy elderly people or on the next day morning after admission from AMI patients.

Results IL18 (211.67 ± 14.45 pg/ml vs 62.42 ± 8.08 pg/ml, P < 0.01) and hs-CRP (0.45 ± 0.12 mg/dL vs 0.13 ± 0.06 mg/dL, P < 0.05) in AMI group were obviously higher than those in the control group and the difference was statistically significant. In AMI group, IL18 and hs-CRP was positively correlated.

Conclusions IL18 and hs-CRP may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AMI as markers of inflammation.