Systemic inflammatory markers in patients with aortic sclerosis.

The aim of the study was to evaluate several mediators of inflammation in patients with aortic sclerosis in relation to severity of cardiovascular disease. Serum level of cytokines, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule 1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 and their tissue inhibitor TIMP-1, were measured by ELISA and MMPs activity by zymography in 51 aortic sclerosis patients. The increase in MMPs expression positively correlated with their gelatinase activity; also there was a positive correlation between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 serum levels.