Cited by 2,429Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular DiseasesLipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthInflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis

Plasma Concentration of Interleukin-6 and the Risk of Future Myocardial Infarction Among Apparently Healthy Men

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Ridker, Paul M., Rifai, Nader, Stampfer, Meir J., Hennekens, Charles H.·2000·Circulation

Abstract

Background —Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a central role in inflammation and tissue injury. However, epidemiological data evaluating the role of IL-6 in atherogenesis are sparse. Methods and Results —In a prospective study involving 14 916 apparently healthy men, we measured baseline plasma concentration of IL-6 in 202 participants who subsequently developed myocardial infarction (MI) and in 202 study participants matched for age and smoking status who did not report vascular disease during a 6-year follow-up. Median concentrations of IL-6 at baseline were higher among men who subsequently had an MI than among those who did not (1.81 versus 1.46 pg/mL; P =0.002). The risk of future MI increased with increasing quartiles of baseline IL-6 concentration ( P for trend <0.001) such that men in the highest quartile at entry had a relative risk 2.3 times higher than those in the lowest quartile (95% CI 1.3 to 4.3, P =0.005); for each quartile increase in IL-6, there was a 38% increase in risk ( P =0.001).This relationship remained significant after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors, was stable over long periods of follow-up, and was present in all low-risk subgroups, including nonsmokers. Although the strongest correlate of IL-6 in these data was C-reactive protein ( r =0.43, P <0.001), the relationship of IL-6 with subsequent risk remained after control for this factor ( P <0.001). Conclusions —In apparently healthy men, elevated levels of IL-6 are associated with increased risk of future MI. These data thus support a role for cytokine-mediated inflammation in the early stages of atherogenesis.

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Crossref · 10.1161/01.cir.101.15.1767

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Authors
Ridker, P. M., Rifai, N., Stampfer, M. J., & Hennekens, C. H.
Affiliations
Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Venue
Circulation
Published
2000-04-18
Volume
101
Issue
15
Pages
1767-1772
ISSN
  • 0009-7322 (ISSN-L)
  • 1524-4539
OpenAlex
W2067504868
Cited by
2,429
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 41 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 55 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 64 · 2018: 82 · 2017: 85 · 2016: 96 · 2015: 99 · 2014: 118 · 2013: 101 · 2012: 107
FWCI
33.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Circulation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • American Heart Association
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL058755, HL-58755)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Inflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis
Keywords
interleukin-6, myocardial infarction, atherogenesis, inflammation, cytokines, C-reactive protein, cardiovascular risk, healthy men, plasma cytokine concentrations
MeSH terms
C-Reactive Protein, Coronary Artery Disease, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Myocardial Infarction, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Smoking, Interleukin-6, Case-Control Studies

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