In the elderly, interleukin-6 plasma levels and the -174G>C polymorphism are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE

Interleukin (IL)-6-mediated inflammation is involved in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed IL-6 levels and the -174G>C genotype in a case-control study of men and women (average age 73 years) within the Cardiovascular Health Study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cases included incident angina, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke (5-year follow-up), prevalent MI, and MRI-detectable infarcts. A control group and a group free of subclinical CVD were used for comparison. The -174C allele was associated with higher C-reactive protein (11% higher, P=0.02), fibrinogen (3% higher, P=0.02), and IL-6 (5% higher; P=0.16). IL-6 was associated with increased atherosclerosis when the control group was compared with the group free of subclinical CVD. No further association with CVD events was found when case groups were compared with the control group. Compared with its absence, presence of the -174C allele was associated with risk of MRI infarcts (odds ratio 1.5).

CONCLUSIONS

IL-6 levels differentiated those with subclinical CVD from those without. Although the -174C allele was not associated with incident events, associations of the genotype with inflammation and MRI infarcts, combined with the plasma IL-6 results, suggest that IL-6 may chronically predispose an individual to develop atherosclerosis.