Association between IL-6 and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis in the veterans affairs diabetes trial (VADT).
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) with the extent of calcified coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).


RESULTS
This is a cross-sectional study of 306 subjects aged 40years or older who were enrolled into the veterans affairs diabetes trial (VADT). Calcified coronary atherosclerosis was assessed using electron beam computed tomography scored by the Agatston method. Clinical parameters, traditional cardiovascular risk factors and plasma levels of CRP, IL-6 and Lp-PLA2 were measured at the time of the scan. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores increased stepwise across increasing categories of IL-6, but did not change across increasing categories of CRP and Lp-PLA2. After adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, IL-6 was significantly associated with CAC scores (p=0.05). The association between IL-6 and CAC was largely in those with lower (below the median) abdominal artery calcium (AAC) levels (p=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a generally higher level of systemic inflammation in T2DM, the inflammatory marker IL-6 remained significantly associated with CAC score, particularly in those subjects with lower AAC scores.
Saremi
Aramesh
A
Phoenix VA Health Care System, AZ 85012-1892, United States.
Anderson
Robert J
RJ
Luo
Ping
P
Moritz
Thomas E
TE
Schwenke
Dawn C
DC
Allison
Mathew
M
Reaven
Peter D
PD
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase