Markers of low-grade inflammation and soluble cell adhesion molecules in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays an important role in atherosclerosis. Markers of low-grade chronic inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble cell adhesion molecules (sCAMs), have been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the significance of inflammatory markers as novel risk factors for CAD in the Chinese population.

METHODS: High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP); sCAMs, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), P-selectin (sP-selectin) and E-selectin (sE-selectin); and white blood cell (WBC) count were measured in 170 angiographically defined CAD patients (70% or greater stenosis affecting at least one vessel) and 177 healthy control subjects in the Chinese population in Singapore.

RESULTS: The levels of hs-CRP, sVCAM-1 and sP-selectin, and the WBC count were higher in CAD patients than in control subjects (P<0.001, P<0.05, P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in the levels of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin between the two groups. Patients with unstable angina or myocardial infarction had higher levels of hs-CRP, and higher WBC and monocyte counts than those with stable angina or atypical chest pain (all P<0.05). The level of sP-selectin in patients with multivessel disease was higher than in those with single-vessel disease (P<0.05). Overall, the levels of hs-CRP and sCAMs showed a significant correlation with the lipid profile and the WBC count.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that inflammatory markers, including hs-CRP and WBC count, together with sP-selectin and sVCAM-1, could serve as markers of atherogenesis in Chinese patients with CAD, with potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.