Six-month results of stenting of the femoropopliteal artery and predictive value of interleukin-6: Comparison with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein

Objectives To determine the association of pre- and postinterventional serum levels of interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein at the six-month evaluation of restenosis after stenting of the femoropopliteal artery. Methods Sixty-eight consecutive patients with steno-occlusive femoropopliteal artery disease of Rutherford category III or IV who underwent stent implantation were included. Six-month patency was evaluated with color-coded duplex ultrasound. The association of in-stent restenosis with interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels at baseline, and 24-h postintervention was assessed with a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results In-stent restenosis was found in 15 patients (22.1%) within six months. Interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were significantly increased at 24-h postintervention compared to their preintervention values (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Interleukin-6 values at baseline (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval: 1.00, 1.23; p = 0.044) and 24-h postintervention (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.06; p < 0.001) were independently associated with six-month in-stent restenosis. Twenty-four-hour postinterventional high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were also found to be related to restenosis (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval: 1.04, 1.26; p = 0.006), but high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels at baseline did not show an independent association with in-stent restenosis (odds ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval: 0.35, 1.80; p = 0.667). Smoking, diabetes mellitus, and cumulative stent length were other parameters associated with an increased risk for in-stent restenosis. Conclusions Femoropopliteal artery angioplasty with stent placement induces an inflammatory response. Interleukin-6 is a powerful independent predictor of intermediate-term outcomes for stenting of the femoropopliteal artery, suggesting that its predictive value may be superior to that of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.