title: Serial changes in circulating concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand and C-reactive protein in patients with unstable angina undergoing coronary stenting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study tested the hypothesis that serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) significantly reflect serial changes in patients with unstable angina, and thus the serum concentrations of these inflammatory biomarkers may be good candidates for predicting late restenosis after coronary stenting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The circulating concentrations of sCD40L and hs-CRP were prospectively measured (both pre-procedure, and on days 21, 90, and 180 after the procedure) in 77 consecutive patients with unstable angina undergoing coronary stenting. These inflammatory mediators were also evaluated in 30 healthy volunteers. The serum concentrations of sCD40L and hs-CRP were significantly higher pre-procedure in study patients than in normal control subjects (all p values < 0.0001). These inflammatory markers then declined to a substantially lower concentration by day 21 (all p values < 0.05). Circulating concentrations of hs-CRP in each patient then differed little from each other afterwards. However, the sCD40L concentration was once again raised significantly on days 90 and 180 as compared to day 21 (both p values < 0.05). This study found no significant link between raised circulating concentrations of sCD40L and hs-CRP and late restenosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating concentrations of sCD40L and hs-CRP were significantly increased in unstable angina patients pre-procedure and declined substantially thereafter. However, the circulating concentrations of these 2 inflammatory mediators were not useful in predicting late restenosis following coronary stenting.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Hon-Kan
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Chiung-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hsueh-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chih-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Wei-Chin
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Chi-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000097:blood*; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002097:C-Reactive Protein