Changes in serum interleukin-8 and interleukin-12 levels in patients with ischemic heart disease in a Chinese population.

Increasing evidence has indicated the important roles of inflammation and immune response in the development of atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease (IHD). We measured the serum interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-12 levels of patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and compared findings with those of normal subjects. The results showed that the serum level of IL-8 was significantly higher in patients with UAP and patients with AMI than in healthy control subjects. To our knowledge, this is the first report that serum IL-12 level was elevated in patients with AMI but not in patients with UAP. These findings suggest that IL-8 and IL-12 are involved in the process of IHD, and serum IL-12 may be a marker for differentiating AMI from UAP.