The Level of Eosinophil Cationic Protein in Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease and Coronary Stenting

Purpose: to compare blood serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with various severity of coronary atherosclerosis, and to assess dynamics of these parameters after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods. The study included 240 patients (144 men). All patients underwent coronary angiography which in 184 patients was accompanied by DES implantation. Blood samples were taken in 24 hours before and on the third day after the procedure. Results. In persons with intact coronary arteries baseline ECP level was lower than in the patients with severe coronary disease (middle and high risk according to SYNTAX score) and amounted to 8.7 [6.5; 11.5], 11.9 [11.2; 15.9], and 15.6 [8.9; 18.8] ng/ml, respectively (p<0.05). Levels of hs-CRP did not differ significantly between groups. Levels of ECP and hs-CRP in patients with and without restenosis (developed in 6-60, mean 29 months after stenting) did not differ. After stenting the level of ECP increased regardless of the type of drug coating (from 11.6 [8.7; 17.4] to 14.7 [10.1; 20.7] ng/ml (p<0.001). ECP level did not change after coronary angiography. The level of hs-CRP increased on the 3-rd day after coronary angiography (from baseline 0.19 [0.08-0.34] to 0.4 [0.2-0.6] mg/L, p<0.001) and after stent implantation (from baseline 0.2 [0.1-0.4] to 0.5 [0.3-1] mg/L, p < 0.001). Conclusion. In patients with severe coronary artery involvement activity of eosinophils was significantly higher than in persons with intact coronary arteries possibly reflecting participation of these cells in development of coronary atherosclerosis. DES implantation led to increased activity of eosinophils. Coronary angiography also caused systemic inflammatory response (detected by changes of hs-CRP level), but less pronounced than that associated with stenting.