[Serum soluble CD40L level and its application in coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serum level of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in coronary heart disease and its relationship with serum lipid levels. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent (EIA) was used to measure sCD40L in 129 patients with coronary heart disease (46 with acute myocardial infarction, 37 with unstable angina pectoris and the other 46 with stable angina pectoris) and 30 matched healthy controls. RESULTS: sCD40L level was significantly higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) [(2. 99 +/- 2.19), (2.23 +/- 0.67) ng/ml in acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris group, respectively] than that of those with stable coronary heart disease and that of controls [(1.12 +/- 0.42) and (0.89 +/- 0.55) ng/ml, respectively] (P < 0.05). Serum sCD40L level was significantly positively related to ApoB100 (r = 0.159, P = 0.046), and negatively related to HDL-C (r = -0.192, P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: The levels of sCD40L increase in acute coronary syndrome, which may be related to the pathogenesis of ACS, and can be used as a potential marker of plaque instability.