Association of endothelial dysfunction factors with the presence of unstable atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries

Aim. To study factors of endothelial dysfunction in order to find their associations with coagulation factors, inflammatory markers and unstable atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries in men with coronary atherosclerosis.

Material and methods. The study included men with coronary atherosclerosis without acute coronary syndrome. We assessed blood concentrations of endothelial dysfunction factors (endothelin 1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), adhesion molecules sVCAM-1, asymmetric dimethylarginine, homocysteine, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) blood coagulation (factor II, factor VII, factor XII, antithrombin III), biomarkers of inflammation (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukins (IL-1-beta, IL-6, IL-8), C-reactive protein).

Results. The presence of unstable atherosclerotic plaques was associated with an increased blood level of MCP-1 (1,9 times higher; p<0,05) and a reduced concentration of sVCAM-1 (1,4 times lower; p<0,05) compared with men who withiut unstable plaques in the coronary arteries. The largest number of correlations was found between the level of MCP-1 in blood, concentrations of factor VII, antithrombin III, IL-8, C-reactive protein, IL-1 beta and the presence of unstable atherosclerotic plaques in men.

Conclusion. The results showed that the relative risk of unstable atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries is associated with an increased level of MCP-1 in the blood.

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