CHANGES OF SOME IMMUNE FUNCTIONS AFTER PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY (PTCA)

This study aimed to evaluate some aspects of the immune response in 10 cardiopathic patients during the execution of percutaneous translumin al coronary angioplasty (PTCA) by obtaining blood samples from coronar y sinus. In particular we considered some PMN functions as well as lys osomal release and oxidative metabolism evaluated as chemiluminescence and superoxide anion (O-2(-)) production. We also studied serum level s of complement C3 and C4, lymphocyte populations (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 , CD16) and plasmatic determinations of interleukin 2 (IL2). After PTC A, we found a decrease of total count of blood lymphocytes, whereas th e number of neutrophils remained unchanged. The decrease involved to a similar extent the lymphocyte subsets CD3, CD4 and CD8, whereas CD19 and CD16 were unchanged. The plasmatic levels of IL2 did not show any significant modification. Concerning PMN, their chemiluminescence was significantly increased after PTCA as compared to basal values: this r esponse was promptly detectable in isolated PMN, both without and with stimulation with fMLP. Similarly superoxide anion production, both sp ontaneous and stimulated, was increased in PMN suspensions after PTCA, even if this increase did not reach statistical significance. As rega rds circulating levels of lysosomal enzymes, we found a significant in crease of plasmatic levels of elastase, whereas the serum determinatio ns of lysozyme and betaglucuronidase did not change. Concerning the co mplement system, we found a significant decrease of complement fractio ns C3 and C4. In conclusion, our results showed certain changes in som e humoral and cellular systems; in particular the neutrophil activatio n through the release of proteolytic enzymes and the generation of oxy gen radicals could increase the damage to vessel walls and activate ot her systems having a negative effect in the ischaemia-associated conse quences.