Relation between interleukin-6 level and subclinical intracranial large-artery atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
The levels of systemic inflammatory markers have been shown to predict future cardiovascular events, but whether they are associated with intracranial large-artery atherosclerosis is uncertain. We investigated the relation between the level of inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and subclinical intracranial large-artery atherosclerosis in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was performed in 226 Japanese patients age range, 45-87 years without a history of cerebrovascular disease. Serum IL-6 and hsCRP and conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis were assessed.


RESULTS
Forty-six patients (20.4%) were found by MRA to have one or more intracranial steno-occlusive lesions. Mean IL-6 levels were higher in patients with intracranial large-artery atherosclerosis than in those without. In addition, patients in the highest IL-6 tertile had higher unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for intracranial large-artery atherosclerosis than that of those in the lowest tertile (OR 3.25, 95% CI; 1.42-7.39). These associations were only slightly attenuated upon adjustment for conventional atherosclerotic risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased levels of IL-6 appear to be associated with intracranial large-artery disease, suggesting a role for the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis of intracranial large arteries.
Hoshi
Taku
T
Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine, Division of Stroke Research, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. thoshi@medone.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Kitagawa
Kazuo
K
Yamagami
Hiroshi
H
Furukado
Shigetaka
S
Hougaku
Hidetaka
H
Hori
Masatsugu
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein