Soluble interleukin 6 receptor levels are associated with reduced myocardial reperfusion after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction

Aims: Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) signalling has been suggested to play a causal role in the development and outcome of coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of sIL-6R levels with myocardial reperfusion after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods: Blood was sampled from 70 patients presenting with STEMI at 6 different time-points (baseline, post-PCI, t = 1 h, t = 6 h, t = 24 h, t = 2w). Coronary angiograms post-PCI were analysed for myocardial blush grade (MBG) as indicator of myocardial reperfusion. Serum IL-6 and sIL-6R were measured using IL-6 and sIL-6R enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).Results: sIL-6R levels fluctuated biphasic during the two weeks after STEMI. Reduced MBG was associated with a larger change in sIL-6R levels between baseline and post-PCI compared to optimal MBG (-13.40; SEM 2.78 ng/ml vs -1.99; SEM 2.35 ng/ml, respectively; p Conclusions: sIL-6R levels fluctuate biphasic during the two weeks after MI with larger changes and increased IL-6/sIL-6R ratio in patients with reduced MBG. Further research is needed to increase our understanding of the possible causality of these associations. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.