Objective  To investigate the correlations of the severity of coronary artery disease with the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients complicated with coronary heart disease (CHD).

  Methods  A total of 30 RA patients complicated with CHD were selected as RA combined with CHD group, 30 patients with simple CHD were selected as CHD group, and 30 patients with simple RA were selected as RA group. The levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in the three groups were detected by flow cytometry, and the relationships between IL-6, IL-17 and Gensini score were analyzed.

  Results  Gensini score of coronary artery in the RA combined with CHD group was (42.63±27.30) points, which was significantly higher than (29.17±22.07) points in the CHD group (P < 0.05). The levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in the RA combined with CHD group were significantly higher than those in the RA group and the CHD group, and the levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in the RA group were significantly higher than those in the CHD group (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that Gensini score was positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-17 levels (r=0.351, 0.545, P=0.006, 0.001).

  Conclusion  Based on no differences in the course and activity of RA, the levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in peripheral blood and the severity of coronary artery disease in RA patients with CHD are higher and greater than those in single RA patients and single CHD patients.