Intracoronary monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor levels are associated with necrotic core, calcium and fibrous tissue atherosclerotic plaque components: an intracoronary ultrasound radiofrequency study.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between various serum biomarkers and coronary atherosclerotic plaque composition obtained by intravascular ultrasound virtual histology (IVUS-VH).

Methods: Using ELISA, we measured the serum levels of CD40 ligand, C-reactive protein, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), metalloproteinase 9, P-selectin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 40 patients with manifested coronary artery disease.

Results: Correlation analysis between biomarkers levels, IVUS grayscale parameters and VH-defined necrotic core (NC), calcium, fibrous and fibrofatty components was performed. MCP-1 and VEGF levels correlated with the severity of area stenosis (r = 0.35, p = 0.03 and r = 0.38, p = 0.017, respectively) and inversely correlated with the remodeling index (r = -0.35, p = 0.03 and r = 0.35, p = 0.02, respectively). Higher levels of MCP-1 were associated with increased calcium (r = 0.47, p = 0.004), NC (r = 0.38, p = 0.02) and less fibrous tissue components (r = -0.34, p = 0.03), whereas VEGF had an inverse correlation with both calcium components (r = -0.37, p = 0.02) and NC (r = -0.34, p = 0.036) but was strongly associated with increased fibrous components (r = 0.47, p = 0.003). No significant correlation was noted for any of the other biomarkers.

Conclusions: MCP-1 and VEGF serum levels in patients with ischemic heart disease are correlated with coronary artery plaque burden and composition.