Cytokine status of patients with atherosclerotic injury of carotid arteries

Abstract

AbstractThe research was aimed at studying interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in serum of 61 patients suffering from atherosclerotic injury of carotid arteries. The results received by the immunoferment method were compared with ultrasound features of atherosclerotic plaques and morphological peculiarities of their biopsies which were obtained during carotid endarterectomy.An increased concentration of cytokines under analysis and CRP in serum of patients with atherosclerotic injury of carotid arteries was detected. It was found out that high levels of IL-6 and CRP are associated with progressing atherosclerosis of carotid arteries and its cerebral complications. The research revealed that detection of cytokines and CRP in serum can be used as an additional method to diagnose unstable character of atherosclerotic plaques.