The relationship between the level of soluble CD40 ligand and angiographic extent and severity of coronary artery disease

Objectives: Previous studies have suggested that atherosclerosis is a chronic infl ammatory disease and impli-cate components of the immune system in atherogenesis. The CD40 and CD40 ligand system regulates mul-tiple phases of the humoral and cellular immune response. Soluble CD40 (sCD40) ligand especially releases from activated platelets. Platelets are involved not only in thrombosis, but also in atherosclerotic lesion formation and restenosis processes. The aim of our study is to evaluate whether there is a relationship between the level of sCD40 ligand and angiographic extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and to compare other cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: 102 participants were included in our study. Among them, 37 patients constituted acute coronary syndrome (ACS) group, 41 patients were diagnosed as stable angina pectoris group (SAP), while 24 subjects served as control group. Peripheral venous blood samples were drawn at the Coronary Care Unit admission of ACS group patients. From SAP group patients and controls who have normal coronary arteries, blood samples collected after coronary angiography. The Gensini score was computed for each patient by assigning the severity score to each coronary stenosis in accordance with the degree