Inflammatory biomarkers of coronary heart disease.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. CHD is characterized by formation of arterial plaques which are mainly comprised of lipids, calcium and inflammatory cells. These plaques narrow the lumen of coronary arteries leading to episodic or persistent angina. Rupture of these plaques leads to the formation of thrombus, which as a result of cessation of blood flow, causes myocardial infarct and death. CHD is exacerbated by risk factors including obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Diagnosis is established by the level of blood cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins Inflammation is considered significant in the pathogenesis of CHD and for this reason, severity and prognosis of CHD is assessed by the levels of inflammatory biomarkers, including interleukin-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), complement, CD40 and myeloperoxidase (MPO).