Modified serum profiles of inflammatory and vasoconstrictive factors in patients with emotional stress-induced acute coronary syndrome during World Cup Soccer 2006.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to assess whether emotional stress-induced acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is mediated by increased inflammatory and vasoconstrictive mediators.

BACKGROUND

The World Cup soccer 2006 has been shown to provoke levels of stress sufficient to increase the incidence of ACS. However, the mechanisms by which stress translates into vascular injury up to plaque rupture still remain elusive.

METHODS

Serum levels of soluble CD40L (sCD40L), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM)-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and endothelin (ET)-1 were determined in patients who experienced an ACS during World Cup matches, in ACS reference patients (not associated with emotional stress), and in healthy volunteers. Correlations and receiver-operating characteristic curves were calculated to develop multivariable analysis and to investigate the diagnostic value of each parameter.

RESULTS

The sCD40L, sVCAM-1, MCP-1, TNF-alpha, and ET-1 were significantly higher in study patients compared with the reference group. The hsCRP was similar in both groups, whereas RANTES was decreased in study patients. A positive correlation was found between ET-1 and soccer-induced enhanced levels of sCD40L, sVCAM-1, MCP-1, and TNF-alpha. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis displayed high performance of both MCP-1 and ET-1 as a measure to discriminate between stress-induced ACS and ACS controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Stress-induced ACS is associated with a profound increase of inflammatory and vasoconstrictive mediators. The evaluation of a targeted drug delivery, such as anti-inflammatory agents, ET-1 receptor antagonists, or inhibition of endothelin-converting enzyme is warranted to reduce stress-mediated cardiovascular morbidity.