Platelet aggregation inhibition blocks C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (IL-6) elevation after the coronary angioplasty: effect of the -174 G/C IL-6 gene polymorphism.

C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the -174 GC IL-6 gene polymorphism were analyzed after coronary angioplasty in 50 patients, 25 of whom were treated with the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet receptor inhibitor eptifibatide for 24 hours. It was found that glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition significantly blocked postangioplasty CRP increases in all patients but blocked IL-6 increases only in patients carrying the -174 GG genotype.