Evaluation of the Serum Levels of TNF-α and IL-8 in the Patients Undergoing Angiography

Angiography is a safe cardiovascular technique for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disorders. The potential effects of angiography on the levels of cytokines are yet to be clarified completely. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are important pro-inflammatory cytokines that participate in the pathogenesis of artery stenosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of angiography on the serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-α.

Sixty participants in three groups, without, with one, and with more than one artery stenosis, were explored in this project. Serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-α were measured in the participants before and after angiography using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.

Serum levels of IL-8, but not TNF-α, significantly decreased following angiography from 61.45 (9.80-266.72) to 7.00 (3.82-17.85) pg/mL (P = 0.008) in participants without artery stenosis, from 79.40 (7.20-197.40) to 6.80 (3.85-29.50) pg/mL (P = 0.002) in participants with one artery stenosis, and from 91.25 (12.80-145.97) to 10.75 (6.97-49.82) pg/mL (P = 0.004) in participants with more than one artery stenosis. The X-ray dose had a moderate positive correlation with serum levels of TNF-α in patients with more than one artery stenosis (r = 0.584, P = 0.009). Serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-α were not different between male and female participants in none of the groups.

Angiography may be a protective factor against inflammation by suppressing IL-8.