Increased Expression of Interleukin-18 mRNA is Associated with Carotid Artery Stenosis

摘要

Background:Carotid artery stenosis is the atherosclerotic narrowing of the proximal internal carotid artery and one of the primary causes of stroke. Elevated expression of the pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-18 has been demonstrated in human atherosclerotic plaques.