J Nijm1, M Kristenson, A G Olsson, L Jonasson. 1. Department of Medicine, Högland Hospital, Eksjö, and Department of Medicine and Care, Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. johnny@nijm.se
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Inflammation is assumed to play a major role in the progress of atherosclerotic disease. We hypothesized that an altered hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity was linked to a disinhibited inflammatory activity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Thirty CAD patients were assessed 12-14 weeks after a first-time acute coronary syndrome. Serum samples were assayed for C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6. Free cortisol was measured in a 24-h urine sample and in repeated saliva samples 30 min after awakening and at bedtime. The levels of inflammatory markers and cortisol were also determined before and after standardized physical and psychological stress tests. RESULTS: The CAD patients had a higher 24-h cortisol secretion and a flattened diurnal slope, resulting from significantly higher cortisol levels at bedtime, compared to clinically healthy controls. The levels of evening cortisol were strongly related to inflammatory markers in serum. When exposed to acute physical and psychological stressors, the CAD patients showed a significantly blunted cortisol response compared to controls. In addition, a stress-induced increase in CRP was only observed in the patient group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CAD exhibited a cortisol pattern that markedly differed from controls. The data indicate that a dysfunctional HPA axis response involves a failure to contain inflammatory activity in CAD patients, thus providing a possible link between stress and inflammation in disease.
OBJECTIVES: Inflammation is assumed to play a major role in the progress of atherosclerotic disease. We hypothesized that an altered hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity was linked to a disinhibited inflammatory activity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Thirty CAD patients were assessed 12-14 weeks after a first-time acute coronary syndrome. Serum samples were assayed for C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6. Free cortisol was measured in a 24-h urine sample and in repeated saliva samples 30 min after awakening and at bedtime. The levels of inflammatory markers and cortisol were also determined before and after standardized physical and psychological stress tests. RESULTS: The CAD patients had a higher 24-h cortisol secretion and a flattened diurnal slope, resulting from significantly higher cortisol levels at bedtime, compared to clinically healthy controls. The levels of evening cortisol were strongly related to inflammatory markers in serum. When exposed to acute physical and psychological stressors, the CAD patients showed a significantly blunted cortisol response compared to controls. In addition, a stress-induced increase in CRP was only observed in the patient group. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with CAD exhibited a cortisol pattern that markedly differed from controls. The data indicate that a dysfunctional HPA axis response involves a failure to contain inflammatory activity in CAD patients, thus providing a possible link between stress and inflammation in disease.
Authors: Charles L Raison; David B Rye; Bobbi J Woolwine; Gerald J Vogt; Breanne M Bautista; James R Spivey; Andrew H Miller Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2010-05-26 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Claudia M Toledo-Corral; Samantha J Myers; Yanjie Li; Howard N Hodis; Michael I Goran; Marc J Weigensberg Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2013-02-22 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: Heidemarie K Laurent; Todd Lucas; Jennifer Pierce; Stefan Goetz; Douglas A Granger Journal: Biol Psychol Date: 2016-05-04 Impact factor: 3.251
Authors: Yekta Dowlati; Nathan Herrmann; Walter Swardfager; Steven Thomson; Paul I Oh; Stan Van Uum; Gideon Koren; Krista L Lanctôt Journal: Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat Date: 2010-09-07 Impact factor: 2.570