Relationships between vascular factors and plaque morphology in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objective To investigate the relationships between vascular factors and plaque morphology in the patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS). Methods Intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) was performed on 56 consecutively enrolled patients with ACS. Cytometric bead array for seven vascular factors(sPE,t-PA, MCP-1, IL-8,IL-6,sVCAM-1, and sCD40L) was measured by cytometry. The others biomarkers were tested by ELISA or biochemistry. Differences in bio-factors were compared between vulnerable plaque and non- vulnerable plaque groups, accte myocardial infarction (AMI) and ustable angina (UA) patients, and occurring plaque rupture. The relationship between the parameters of morphology and vascular factors was analyzed. Results There were positive correlations between sVCAM-1sPE, sVCAM-1-sCD40L, sCD40L-sPE, IL-6-IL8,IL8-MCP1, and MCP1-sVCAM-1；CRP (18.868±4.907mg/L vs 5.806±3.553 mg/L)and IL-6 (19.5 pg/ml 9.2 ~ 44.6 pg/mlvs 5.3 pg/ml 2.3~13.4 pg/ml)were elevated in the vulnerable plaque group(P ＜0.05). sCD40L(473.82± 126.11 vs 237.94± 34.78 pg/ml),sPE(107.21±39.90 vs 49.06 ±5.61μg/L) and MCP-1(132.42 ± 17.85 vs 127.17±13.27 pg/ml) were increased in the plaque rupture group(P ＜0.05);There was correlation between tPA and plaque morphology(P ＜0.05). Increases in sCD40L, MCP-1, sPE, and TC were independent factors for plaque rupture. Conclusions IL-6 and CRP may be biomarkers for vulnerable plaque and for diagnosis of AMI. sCD40L,MCP-1 and sPE are potential markers when for plaque rupture patient present with severe ACS.