title: Serum IL-6 levels are associated with significant coronary stenosis in cardiovascularly asymptomatic inner-city black adults in the US.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to explore whether increased levels of inflammatory cytokines are associated with the risk of clinically silent coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-hundred-fifty-six black adults aged 25-54 residing in inner city of Baltimore, Maryland, United States were included in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sociodemographics were assessed as were lipid profiles, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coronary calcification was identified in 22.5 % participants and 14 % had significant (>or=50 %) coronary stenosis. Multiple logistic regression analyses suggested that IL-6 levels were independently associated with the presence of coronary calcification and significant coronary stenosis, while TNF-alpha, sICAM-1 and hs-CRP levels were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study underscores a critical role for IL-6 in atherosclerosis and suggests that IL-6 may be a marker for significant coronary stenosis in cardiovascularly asymptomatic individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. slai@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Fishman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pannu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Detrick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008055:Lipids