Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels are associated with angiographically complex coronary lesions in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of vulnerable plaque with subsequent thrombus formation has been implicated as the most common pathogenic mechanism responsible for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Angiographic coronary lesion complexity has been reported to reflect plaque vulnerability. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine and might be involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic plaque destabilization.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate if serum MIF levels are associated with angiographic coronary lesion complexity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 232 consecutive CAD patients and 76 controls were recruited. CAD patients were subdivided according to the presence of ACS (n=138) or stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n=98). Coronary lesion morphology was assessed by coronary angiography. Serum MIF levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: SAP patients had significantly higher serum MIF levels compared with healthy controls, and ACS patients had significantly higher serum MIF levels compared with SAP patients. In SAP patients, serum MIF levels were independently associated with the presence of complex coronary lesion. In ACS patients, serum MIF levels increased in conjunction with the extent of complex lesions.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum MIF levels are a potential biomarker for reflecting the presence and severity of angiographically complex coronary lesion in CAD patients.