Association of Interleukin-6 With the Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis: A 9-Year Follow-Up Study

• Published in: Stroke (1970) 2014-10, Vol.45 (10), p.2924-2929
• Main Authors: Okazaki, Shuhei, Sakaguchi, Manabu, Miwa, Kaori, Furukado, Shigetaka, Yamagami, Hiroshi, Yagita, Yoshiki, Mochizuki, Hideki, Kitagawa, Kazuo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biomarkers - blood; Carotid Artery Diseases - blood; Carotid Artery Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery Diseases - pathology; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Disease Progression; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Interleukin-6 - blood; Male; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 0039-2499; 1524-4628
• DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.005991

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE—Limited information is available on the long-term effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on systemic atherosclerosis. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship between chronic elevation of IL-6 and the long-term progression of carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS—We prospectively evaluated 210 patients with ≥1 vascular risk factors for 9.0±1.0 years. Carotid mean-maximal intima-media thickness (mmIMT), the serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, and the serum IL-6 level were measured at baseline and every 3 years. The associations between the progression of mmIMT and the long-term average levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 were analyzed. RESULTS—Carotid mmIMT increased throughout the study period (0.031±0.026 mm/y). Baseline mmIMT was significantly associated with baseline hs-CRP (P=0.002) and baseline IL-6 (P