Relationship of self-reported exercise tolerance with inflammatory markers in women with stable ischemic heart disease

OBJECTIVE: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is associated with decreased exercise tolerance and it is subjectively reported as angina pectoris or dyspnea. Inflammation and pro- inflammatory cytokines are related to progression of IHD, but their level is seldom analyzed in association with self reported exercise tolerance. METHODS: Women aged 35-75 years with stable IHD from Homocysteine Slovakia study (N=175) were analyzed for monocyte chemoatractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1), Mannan binding lectin (MBL), heat shock proteins 60 (HSP60), carbonyl protein (CP), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in relation to exercise induced dyspnea or angina pectoris (AP) (<= 200 m). RESULTS: Patients with dyspnea had higher HSP60 (77.3 +/- 107.2 vs 43.7 +/- 48.9 ng/ml; p=0.014) and IL-6 (2.9 +/- 1.3 vs 1.9 +/- 0.6 pg/ml; p=0.04) levels. IL-6 and HSP60 demonstrated direct correlation with dyspnea (rho=0.39; p=0.02 resp. rho=0.22; p=0.01). AP <= 200 m patients showed only decreased protein carbonyl a marker of protein oxidation and increased oxidative stress (CP 61.7 +/- 27.3 vs. 72.1 +/- 23.1 pg/ml; p=0.001). CP indirectly correlates with AP <= 200 m (rho=-0.25; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We have found associations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammation markers with dyspnea or angina pectoris, but the relationship was not consistent in our patients with stable ischemic heart disease.