Study on the correlation between serum interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and stability of carotid artery plaque in patients of acute coronary syndrome complicated with diabetes mellitus

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum interleukin-6,matrix metallo-proteinase-9 and stability of carotid artery plaque in patients of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) complicated with diabetes mellitus (DM).Methods 104 cases of ACS complicated with DM were selected,then according to the results of the ultrasound measurement of bilateral carotid artery,they were divided into intima-media thickness (IMT) normal group (20 cases),IMT thickening group (36 cases),stable plaque group (30 cases),and unstable plaque group (18 cases).Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6,matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The levels of plasma IL-6 and MMP-9 in IMT normal group,IMT thickening group,stable plaque group and unstable plaque group were higher than those in control group [(295.3 ± 43.8),(369.5 ± 46.2),(446.2±44.7),(533.6 ±48.1) ng/L vs.(216.7 ±39.8) ng/L and (172.3 ±24.6),(228.6 ±26.2),(287.4±30.1),(372.8 ±31.5) μg/L vs.(98.7 ±20.7) μg/L],and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05 for all) ; In IMT normal group,IMT thickening group,stable plaque group and unstable plaque group,the levels of plasma IL-6 and MMP-9 gradually increased,and the differences among the groups were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05 for all).Conclusion There is a significant correlation between serum IL-6,MMP-9 levels and carotid plaque stability in patients of ACS complicated with diabetes mellitus,which can provide some indicative effect for the occurrence and development of vascular disease. Key words: Acute coronary syndrome;  Diabetes mellitus;  Interleukin-6;  Matrix metalloproteinase-9;  Carotid artery plaque