Background and Aim: Recent evidences suggest new risk factors especially inflammatory reactions and immunologic factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of IL-17 in patients with acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study serum samples were obtained from 30 patients with Acute Mycrordial Infarction (MI), 30 patients with Unstable Angina (UA) and 30 sex and age matched healthy subjects. Serum samples of participants were tested for the levels of IL-17 by the use of ELISA. Statistical analyses have been done using ANOVA and t-test.

Results: The mean serum levels of IL-17 were 6.68±1.2 pg/ml in AMI group, 5.48±1.01 pg/ml in UA group and 2.07±0.60 pg/ml in healthy control group. Statistical analyses showed that the mean serum concentrations of IL-17 in AMI and UA groups was significantly higher than that observed in healthy control group (P<0.005 and P<0.04, respectively). Moreover, the mean serum levels of IL-17 in total IHD (Ischemic Heart Disease) patients (6.08±0.79 pg/ml) was significantly higher than that observed in healthy subjects (P<0.002). No significant difference was observed between AMI and UA groups regarding the mean serum concentrations of IL-17.

Conclusion: These results demonstrated higher serum levels of IL-17 in patients with AMI and UA than the control group. Accordingly, IL 17-associated mechanisms may participate in the pathogenesis of IHD.