Association of Interleukin-6 With the Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular disease, and preventing the progression of atherosclerosis is therefore important. However, in atherosclerotic high-risk patients, the conventional management of traditional risk factors is insufficient to prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Recent studies have shown that proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), play a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. IL-6 and its downstream signaling factors contribute to both atherosclerotic plaque development and plaque destabilization. Although regulation of IL-6 has been suggested as a therapeutic target in atherosclerosis, there is a lack of prospective data on the long-term effects of IL-6 on the progression of atherosclerosis. Here, we report the results of a 9-year follow-up study of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with vascular risk factors aimed at elucidating the association between the long-term progression of atherosclerosis and chronic elevation of IL-6 levels. Materials and Methods