No association between vitamin D levels and inflammation markers in patients with acute coronary syndrome

PurposeA modern concept regards acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as an auto-inflammatory disorder. The purpose of the present study is to assess the plasma levels of inflammation related to biomarkers and cytokines in ACS patients and to correlate the values with 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (calcidiol). There are no previously published reports concerning serum concentrations of inflammatory markers in patients with hypovitaminosis D in ACS.Patients and methodsEighty-eight consecutive patients with ACS [n = 47 ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), n = 41 unstable angina pectoris (USAP)] were enrolled within 12 h after symptoms. The blood samples were collected on admission in order to evaluate calcidiol, serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL)-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).ResultsCalcidiol, TNFα and SAA levels were significantly lower (p = 0.01, p < 0.01 and p < 0.01 respectively), whereas hsCRP levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in STEMI group as compared to USAP group. In the STEMI group, there were negative correlations between SAA and hsCRP (r = −0.347; p = 0.01) and SAA and IL-6 (r = −0.356; p = 0.01). There was a positive correlation between IL-6 and hsCRP (r = 0.529; p < 0.01). In the USAP group, it was found that there were a strong negative correlation between SAA and hsCRP (r = –0.75; p < 0.01) and a positive correlation between IL-6 and TNF-α (r = 0.54; p < 0.01).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that calcidiol levels are not associated with the inflammation markers in patients with acute phase ACS.