OX40 ligand levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in blood from local coronary plaque and the femoral artery in patients with acute coronary syndrome or stable angina.

OX40 ligand (OX40L) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) play important roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS; n = 90) or stable angina (SA; n = 40) and healthy control subjects (n = 50) were evaluated to assess plasma OX40L and serum hs-CRP levels in local coronary plaque and the femoral artery. OX40L and hs-CRP levels in the femoral artery were significantly higher in patients with ACS compared with controls. OX40L and hsCRP levels in local coronary plaque (OX40L(c) and hs-CRP(c), respectively) were significantly higher in ACS than in SA patients. OX40L and hs-CRP levels were positively correlated with each other and were also correlated with fibrinogen levels. The number of complex lesions was correlated with OX40L(c) and hs-CRP(c) levels. It is concluded that the OX40L(c) level was highly sensitive for evaluating the inflammatory response in ACS and elevated levels of OX40L(c) may be a valuable predictive marker for increased risk of atherosclerotic progression in ACS patients.