ROLE OF SERUM INTERLEUKIN-6 AS AN INFLAMMATORY MARKER IN ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE BEFORE AND TWO HOURS AFTER CORONARY ARTERY STENTING

Background: Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease (IHD), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) has emerged as a key biomarker associated with atherosclerosis progression and plaque instability. Its role in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains clinically significant. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate serum IL-6 levels in patients with IHD before and two hours after coronary artery stenting, and to assess its association with clinical presentation, risk factors, and angiographic severity. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 patients with IHD (including STEMI, NSTEMI/unstable angina, and stable angina) undergoing coronary angiography and bare-metal stent implantation, along with 20 healthy controls. Clinical evaluation, risk factor assessment, and angiographic classification were performed. Serum IL-6 levels were measured before catheterization and two hours post-stenting using ELISA techniques. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in IHD patients compared to healthy controls and increased further after stenting. Elevated IL-6 levels were associated with higher-risk clinical presentations, particularly in STEMI patients. Significant correlations were observed between IL-6 levels and age, gender, diabetes mellitus, and severity of coronary lesions. IL-6 levels were consistently higher two hours post-stenting across all patient groups. Conclusion: IL-6 is a valuable inflammatory biomarker in IHD, correlating with disease severity and clinical risk. Its elevation following stenting highlights its role in post-procedural inflammatory response, suggesting potential utility in risk stratification and monitoring outcomes in patients undergoing PCI.