Background: Increasing evidence shows that high expression of CD40L plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. We evaluated the clinical predictive value of increased serum soluble CD40 ligand (CD40L) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and acute chest pain.
Methods: Serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand were measured by ELISA in 128 patients with ACS and in 68 patients with acute chest pain. Platelet activation was assessed by flow cytometry.
Results: The levels of soluble CD40 ligand were increased in 57.8% patients with ACS (>8.0 ng/ml) and in 35 patients with acute chest pain (>8.0 ng/ml), respectively. The level of soluble CD40 ligand was slightly correlated with measured levels of troponin T (r=0.21, p<0.05), and the increased soluble CD40L levels (>8.0 ng/ml) were associated with higher risk for AMI, sudden death and recurrent angina. Patients with elevated serum levels of sCD40L and cTnT showed a significantly increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (including AMI, sudden death and recurrent angina) in the two groups during 30 days and 6 months of follow-up.
Conclusion: In patients with unstable coronary artery disease, elevation of serum soluble CD40L levels indicated an independent increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.