PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Jan Kaehler

Publications and source records attributed to Jan Kaehler.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Association between eotaxin (CCL11), C-reactive protein, and antimicrobial antibodies in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty.

Eotaxin (CCL11) is a potent chemoattractant for eosinophils and lymphocytes. Apart from its functions in the eosinophilic system, eotaxin has been shown to be overexpressed in atherosclerosis. We therefore sought to determine whether chronic infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae or other infectious agents is correlated with concentrations of eotaxin or C-reactive protein since this mechanism could explain the finding that chronic infection stimulates smooth muscle cell migration and plaque development. Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome or stable angina were included in the study. Blood was drawn before PCI, at 6 weeks, and 6 and 12 months after coronary intervention. Eotaxin and C-reactive protein were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Antibodies against Candida, C. pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus, Helicobacter pylori, and herpes simplex virus were measured by ELISA or immunofluorescence. Two hundred five consecutive patients undergoing PCI (stable angina, n = 136; acute coronary syndrome, n = 69) and 83 patients with normal coronary arteries were enrolled in the study. Eotaxin concentrations at inclusion were higher in patients with coronary artery disease than in control patients, p = .01, and comparable in patients with stable angina and those with acute coronary syndrome but did not correlate with C-reactive protein. Eotaxin concentrations at inclusion and during follow-up weakly correlated with concentrations of antibodies against C. pneumoniae, H. pylori, and herpes simplex virus but not with concentrations of antibodies against Candida or cytomegalovirus. Eotaxin concentrations and antibody titers against C. pneumoniae significantly increased following angioplasty and remained elevated thereafter. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that eotaxin concentrations are elevated independently from C-reactive protein in patients with coronary artery disease and correlate with antibodies against infectious agents known for chronic infection in humans.

Aged↗

13-year follow-up of the German angioplasty bypass surgery investigation.

AIMS: The German Angioplasty Bypass Surgery Investigation was designed to compare symptomatic efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA) with coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) in patients with symptomatic multi-vessel disease. This follow-up study was performed to determine the long-term outcome of patients following these interventions. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1986 to 1991, 359 patients with angina CCS class II-IV, age below 75 years, and coronary multi-vessel disease requiring revascularization of at least two major coronary vessels were recruited at eight German centres and randomized to PTCA or CABG. From 337 patients undergoing the planned procedure, 324 patients could be followed-up (96%). Baseline parameters were identical in both groups, 2.2+/-0.6 vessels were treated in CABG patients, whereas 1.9+/-0.5 vessels were treated in PTCA patients. Thirty-seven per cent of surgical patients received internal mammary artery grafts, while no stents were used in patients undergoing PTCA. At the end of the 13-year follow-up period, the degree of angina, the degree of dyspnea, and the utilization of nitrates were comparable in both groups. With a total number of 76 deaths, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a comparable distribution in both groups. Although time to first re-intervention was significantly shorter in the PTCA group, P<0.001, frequencies of re-intervention (CABG, n=94; PTCA, n=136) and crossover rates (CABG to PTCA, n=49; PTCA to CABG, n=51) were comparable in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results of our 13-year follow-up suggest that in patients with symptomatic multi-vessel disease, both PTCA and CABG are associated with a comparable long-term survival and symptomatic efficacy. How far these results may be altered by developments such as drug-eluting stents or off-pump surgery remains to be determined.

Adult↗

A randomized trial in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angioplasty: roxithromycin does not reduce clinical restenosis but angioplasty increases antibody concentrations against Chlamydia pneumoniae.

BACKGROUND: Elevated antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae have been associated with coronary artery disease. In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angioplasty, we therefore investigated the effect of roxithromycin on symptomatic restenosis and determined antichlamydial antibodies as well as inflammatory and immunological parameters. METHODS: A total of 327 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty were randomized to roxithromycin or placebo and followed-up for 1 year. Antibodies were determined by microimmunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; C-reactive protein, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and eotaxin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Although the frequency of restenosis was not affected by roxithromycin (25 restenoses vs 32 in the control group), antichlamydial antibodies increased during follow-up (anti-CP IgG +12 +/- 2%, P < .001). Concentrations of TNF-alpha and eotaxin increased as well (TNF-alpha +9 +/- 1% and eotaxin +10 +/- 2%) and correlated with antichlamydial antibody concentrations (TNF-alpha, r = 0.23, P = .02; eotaxin, r = 0.32, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with roxithromycin was not associated with a reduction of symptomatic restenoses. During follow-up, a marked increase in antichlamydial antibodies, TNF-alpha, and eotaxin was observed, suggesting that angioplasty-induced plaque rupture induces a specific immunological response without activation of inflammatory mechanisms as represented by C-reactive protein. Whether this mechanism occurs in all plaque ruptures remains to be determined.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Endothelin-1 mRNA and protein in vascular wall cells is increased by reactive oxygen species.

A dysregulated metabolism of oxygen-derived free radicals, nitric oxide and endothelin-1(ET-1) in conditions such as hypercholesterolaemia or hypertension may promote the development of atherosclerosis. We therefore subjected cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells and coronary artery smooth muscle cells to oxidative stress induced by xanthine oxidase or hydrogen peroxide and observed alterations in ET-1 metabolism. Incubation with oxygen-derived free radicals increased preproET-1 promoter activity, ET-1 mRNA synthesis and big ET-1 concentrations in both cell types. This interaction of oxidative stress and ET-1 expression may be relevant in atherogenic conditions such as hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension since our data indicate that oxidative stress further aggravates the injurious effects attributed to ET-1.

Cells, Cultured↗