Effect of PCI on inflammatory markers, adiponectin and insulin resistance.

Aims: Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) evoke an inflammatory response and have been reported to decrease adiponectin levels. If persistent over time, the inflammatory response and low adiponectin levels would induce insulin resistance, rendering PCI potentially hazardous for glucose metabolism. We investigated whether PCI decreased insulin sensitivity after one month and if so, whether this was related to a lasting elevation of inflammatory markers and decrease in adiponectin levels.

Methods And Results: Insulin sensitivity (euglycemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp) was measured in 19 patients with stable coronary artery disease before and one month after PCI. Also, levels of inflammatory mediators and adiponectin were assessed. Insulin sensitivity was not affected by the PCI procedure. There were no persistent increases in IL-6, hs-CRP and adiponectin levels after PCI.

Conclusions: The inflammatory response seen immediately after PCI does not translate to a medium-term negative effect on insulin action.