Dynamic changes of the various cytokines following carotid artery stenting.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the serum inflammatory and coagulation factors changes and clinical significance following carotid artery stenting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expressions of serum inflammatory factors including IL-2, IL6, IL-8, sICAM-1, hs-CRP, and TNF-alpha and serum coagulation factors including prothrombin time (PT), active partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer (DD), and fibrin degradation products (FDP) were determined in 92 patients who had undergone carotid artery stenting before, 24h, 48h, 3 days and 1 week after the surgery. As well, 92 subjects who did not receive stenting were enrolled in the angiography group, amongst whom the same variables were determined. RESULTS: In the stenting group, the expressions of hs-CRP, TNF-alpha, sICAM-1, IL-6, IL-8, FIB, and DD were significantly increased after the surgery (p < 0.05): hs-CRP reached a peak 48h after the surgery; TNF-alpha, sICAM-1, and IL-6 maintained at high levels at days 3-7; and FIB and DD increased 48h and 3d after the surgery. Compared with the angiography group, the expressions of hs-CRP, TNF-alpha, sICAM-1, and IL-8 (24h after the surgery) as well as FIB and DD (48h and 3d after the surgery) were significantly higher in the stenting group. CONCLUSIONS: The hs-CRP, TNF-alpha, sICAM-1, IL-8, FIB, and DD increased after carotid artery stenting and, therefore, can serve as important factors for monitoring for acute postoperative complications.