Objective To study the effect and its mechanism of coronary stenting on blood levels of P-selectin. Methods Thirty patients who received coronary stenting from September 2003 to September 2004 were included in the study and another twenty six patients who received coronary angiography during the same period were selected as controls. Blood samples were drawn at 1 h before and at 1 h, 4 h, 24 h, 48 h, 1 week after coronary stenting. Blood samples were taken at 1 h before and at 1 h, 4 h, 24 h after coronary angiograpy. Results In patients with coronary stenting, P-selectin levels after the procedure were significantly higher than that before the procedure (P