Long term angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibition in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting reduces levels of soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1.

OBJECTIVE: to examine the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (ACEI) on soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHOD: subgroup analysis of 42 patients randomised to Quinapril (40 mg daily determined) and 45 to placebo. sICAM-1 and CRP were > or = 4 weeks before and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: there was no difference in sICAM-1 at baseline (142.2 microg/L vs 136.6 microg/L). There was significant reduction in s-ICAM-1 in patients receiving quinapril (142.2+/-10.8 microg/L vs 125.6+/-9.4 microg/L, p<0.05) but not placebo (136.6+/-10.2 microg/L vs 131.2+/-11.7 microg/L, p=NS). Levels of C-reactive protein remained unchanged in both groups (3.70+/-0.85 vs 2.73+/-0.32 mg/L, 2.85+/-0.48 vs 3.16+/-0.50 mg/L). CONCLUSIONS: ACEI reduces sICAM-1 in patients undergoing CABG. The benefits of ACEI may partly be due to a reduction of the vascular inflammatory response.